On ESPN’s First take this week, Stephen A. Smith expressed some of his biggest doubts about the Los Angeles Lakers this season. Namely, he pointed out Anthony Davis and called on him to improve from his wild up-and-down play from last season.
“Is Anthony Davis going to be a Superstar or is he gonna be what I call ‘Six Flags?'” asked Stephen A. “He shows up one game drops 40, shows up the next game and he’s missing in action. Shows up another game and drops 35, the next game he’s missing in action. Struggled throughout the postseason to put back-to-back games together. He was in uniform and there were still missing persons reports out for him. He can’t be that.”
Stephen A Smith has questions about Anthony Davis
"Is Anthony Davis going to be a Superstar or is he gonna be what i call "Six Flags". He shows up one game drops 40, the next game he's missing in action…"
[via @FirstTake] pic.twitter.com/S91LDYoJAO
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) October 20, 2023
The Lakers big man has been trying to put the team on his back for years now, but injuries and inconsistent play have continually held him back. Last season, despite flashes of greatness, Davis couldn’t hold it down for more than a few weeks at a time. By the end of the season, Anthony Davis’ numbers looked solid on paper (25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game) but he often failed to close the deal when the stakes were highest and the Lakers suffered for it.
Anthony Davis Lacks Consistency
As an 8x All-Star, 4x All-NBA player, and 4x All-Defensive star, Anthony Davis has already proven himself as one of the best players in the world. But to truly take that next step as a leader, he’ll need to deliver on a more consistent basis and find a way to stay healthy for longer periods of time. At 30 years old, now is the time for the star big man to take the keys from LeBron and cement himself as “the guy” for the Lakers for years to come.
On the 2023-24 season, in particular, Darvin Ham has already revealed big plans for Davis. In this campaign he wants Davis to shoot more threes than ever before as he maintains his role as the “heart and soul” of the organization. But until Davis becomes one of those players who brings his best every night, there will always be doubts about his leadership and about how far the Lakers can go with him at the helm.
The Window Is Closing For The Lakers
With LeBron James on the verge of turning 39 years old, the clock is ticking on the Lakers’ window to win another title in this era. While James is still somehow playing at an elite level, his decline is at hand his availability has become an increasing concern deeper into his career. So as we wait to see what this season looks like for the King, the Lakers will be leaning on guys like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell to help carry the load and make the Lakers a multi-faceted threat.
Obviously, Anthony Davis will be the biggest factor of all. As one of the league’s top two-way bigs, he’s one of a kind in the NBA and he can change everything for the Lakers with a season of full health and focus. Only time will tell if he can have that kind of season in 2024, but the Lakers will need everything they can get from him if they want any chance of coming out of the West.
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