- Anthony Davis was asked by the Lakers to become a franchise leader during his extension talks
- Rob Pelinka revealed the superstar has been putting in the work
- Davis needs to be the best player on the Lakers for them to win a championship
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Anthony Davis to a three-year, $186 million extension this summer, and it is clear that the team valued his contributions on both ends of the floor. However, it seems as though the team had some conditions for the superstar before committing to him long-term.
A recent report from Jovan Buha of The Athletic conveyed the words of Rob Pelinka, who revealed that the team challenged Anthony Davis to become a leader on the franchise, as well as the hardest worker on the team. Pelinka noted that Davis has done what the team asked, and added that Davis will “return” the franchise’s commitment.
“The theme was, ‘We want to commit to you, but we want you to commit to us,’” Pelinka said. “And one of the aspects that we addressed with him in that exchange was becoming a leader and being the hardest worker, and he really did that this offseason. … Training more this offseason than I’ve seen with him as a Laker. He’s taken on that leadership mantle and I think he knows that when the franchise invests in him like we did this summer, he’s gonna return that. That’s just his character.”
Many people believe that Anthony Davis needs to take over as the team leader and best player for the Los Angeles Lakers. This stance makes sense, as LeBron James turns 39 this season, and it is unfair to keep expecting him to carry the franchise. It seems as though Davis is up to the challenge, and we’ll see how well he does next season.
This past season, Anthony Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for the Los Angeles Lakers, and his production is definitely All-NBA-level. However, he only played 56 games last season, and that is an aspect where Davis needs to improve.
Jeanie Buss Believes There’s An Argument For Anthony Davis Being The Best Player In The League Last Season
When he’s healthy, nobody doubts Anthony Davis’ talent. He could become an MVP-level player with consistency, and he definitely has the talent to do so. Many within the Lakers organization clearly have trust in him to reach that level. In fact, Jeanie Buss stated that Anthony Davis had an argument to be the NBA’s best player during the 2022-23 season.
Though the majority of people don’t think Anthony Davis is the best player in the league, he could stake a claim for that title next season. He has the talent to be a truly dominant big man on both ends of the floor, and the key is simply a consistent aggressive mentality.
Anthony Davis Can Lead The Lakers To A Championship
At this point, it is unclear if LeBron James can still be the No. 1 option on a championship team. However, it is quite possible that he can be a No. 2, as he is still an All-NBA player even going into year 21.
The onus obviously is on Anthony Davis to become a consistent MVP talent and the best player on the Los Angeles Lakers. He needs to lead the team on both ends of the floor and set the tone.
The Los Angeles Lakers have all the pieces to be successful next season. They have the star power, the depth, and the coaching to make a deep run. Everything is in place for the team to become a championship squad.
The pressure will be on Anthony Davis to become the leader that the Lakers need. Hopefully, the superstar can step up for the squad, and perhaps we’ll see him with a Finals MVP award by the end of next season.
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