- Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has made a bold claim about Anthony Davis
- Jeanie Buss said Anthony Davis had an argument to be considered the NBA’s best player in 2022-23
- Jeanie Buss added the caveat that it was only when Davis was healthy
Anthony Davis has long been one of the most talented players in the NBA, but his health has held him back time and again. With other elite big men like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo dominating the MVP conversation, Davis has almost been left behind a little bit.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has shown confidence in her star, though. Buss recently went as far as to claim that Davis was the best player in the league last season when he was healthy.
“There’s an argument to be made that he was the best player in the NBA when he was playing,” Buss told The Athletic NBA show.
“There’s an argument to be made that he [Anthony Davis] was the best player in the NBA when he was playing.”
Do you agree?
Jeanie Buss joined the latest The Athletic NBA Show to discuss more on the Los Angeles Lakers: pic.twitter.com/LiYOsMPH5d
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 20, 2023
Anthony Davis started the season on fire in 2022-23, averaging 28.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game in 24 of the Lakers’ first 27 games.
He then succumbed to a foot injury, which saw him miss 20 straight games, and he ended the season having played just 56 games in total and missing out on any major honors. Jeanie Buss does have a point if she’s talking about the small stretch of games Davis played.
Charles Barkley Thinks Anthony Davis Needs To Step Up And Become The Lakers’ Best Player
LeBron James is going into his 21st NBA season and while he is among the best players in the NBA still, his age has to start showing at some point.
Anthony Davis just turned 30 years old and he has at least three more seasons of his prime remaining. And Charles Barkley recently spoke about how Davis needs to step up and become the Lakers’ best player.
“At some point, LeBron gonna have to say ‘AD… damn… I’m 100 years old. It’s about time for you to be the best player’. You are in your prime.”
Anthony Davis ended last season averaging 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game. He needs to average these numbers and play the whole season if he wants to be in conversation as one of the league’s best players.
Anthony Davis Wants To Play in His Favored Role Next Season
Anthony Davis has to play at the highest level if the Los Angeles Lakers want to win an NBA championship next season. And in service of that, Davis no longer wants to be playing the center position in the starting lineup.
“Sources told ESPN that Davis made it clear to the organization he wanted to have more support at the center so he wouldn’t have to play so much 5 during the regular season,” a report from insider Dave McMenamin read.
Anthony Davis playing the power forward position might make a difference to his endurance as well. He is prone to injury, which his history has shown, so getting less wear and tear in the post could be a recipe for the Lakers to keep him healthy.
Anthony Davis was constantly in conversations with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic as the best big man in the league during his early days with the Los Angeles Lakers. It is on him to recapture that form and get back to that level next season so Buss’ words can come true.
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