Despite the Lakers having made headlines all summer long, their second-biggest star, Anthony Davis, has flown under the radar through it all.
After a wildly inconsistent season in 2021, it’s almost like he dropped off the face of the earth and, aside from a few photos of his wedding, the guy really hadn’t been seen or heard for months.
He finally resurfaced during NBA Media day, making his excitement known about the upcoming campaign and displaying some signs of leadership as he talked about what is to come.
“I think I have the capability of doing so… Guys have talked to me about ‘this is your team, we go as you go.'”
During his chat with the media, LeBron James dedicated some of his own time to share about his co-star, and it should serve as a warning to the rest of the league.
“A lot of dudes go through the summer and they like to post their workouts and post their training and post everything that they’re doing. If there was one guy you did not see this summer, until he got married last week, is Anthony Davis. But I know everything that he was doing, putting in the work, both in the weight room and also on the court.
And he’s determined to — it’s not about proving people wrong — it’s about proving himself right. I’m looking forward to a very angry Anthony Davis.”
"It's not about proving people wrong, it's about proving himself right. I'm looking forward to a very angry Anthony Davis." @KingJames previews what @Lakers fans can expect to see from @AntDavis23 this season. 👀 @RealAClifton pic.twitter.com/jw5W4VKJng
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) September 28, 2021
For the first time in his career, Davis is entering this season with plans to play center full-time, and it will be most interesting to see how he adjusts.
Can he stay healthy in his new role? Can he step up and be the star/leader his team needs him to be?
No matter your feelings on AD, it’s undeniable that he’s an important part of what the Lakers hope to do this season. Ultimately, it will be up to him to prove that he’s made the most of his time off.
