Rob Pelinka Showers Praise On Anthony Davis: “Incredible Captain And Leader”

Anthony Davis was heavily praised by Rob Pelinka, who implied they want him to sign a contract extension.

3 Min Read

Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers can never be counted out of contention due to the presence of an incredibly talented duo. We all know what LeBron James brings to the table, but with his age, it seems Anthony Davis is the primary option on the court. 

Both James and Davis can be free agents at the end of the 2023-24 season. Rob Pelinka spoke about how highly he values Davis while talking to ESPN, implying he wants to extend AD’s contract.

“I wish the CBA allowed us to talk about negotiations… But there are pretty strict rules around that, so can’t really talk about contracts and negotiations, but couldn’t think more highly of Anthony Davis as a Laker and as a player. He’s helped deliver a championship to our franchise.” 

Pelinka also recognized AD as a leader for playing through injury and leading the Lakers to the Conference Finals.

“He’s been an incredible captain and leader. We saw last year, willing to play through a hard foot injury to get our team to the Western Conference finals. So, just love having him as a part of our team.”

AD averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2,0 blocks in 56 games due to injury. Though he stayed on the court for the entirety of the playoffs, he was playing hurt and struggling. AD may never have a healthy season in the NBA again, but the Lakers have put enough talent around him and LeBron to mitigate the time either star spends on the bench.


Depth Over Star Power In LA

The Lakers chose to make smart acquisitions this summer. They retained their core while adding backups in almost every position. Davis will have Jaxson Hayes behind him as a defensive option, but Hayes lacks the offensive refinement that the Lakers may need from their five. This opens up another need for a scoring big man that the Lakers can pursue this summer.

Christian Wood is the best available option for the Lakers, averaging 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds last season with the Mavericks. His career arc of never being able to stick with a team should be a red flag, as the Lakers need every player to buy into their role. There aren’t many options beyond Wood for the Lakers, and it doesn’t look like Wood can get more than a minimum contract anywhere. This could be an incredible marriage of need with low risk but a high ceiling. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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