Although LeBron James is still the leading man, the Los Angeles Lakers‘ title hopes truly depend on Anthony Davis.
The Lakers are intent on building around Davis once James eventually retires as evidenced by the lucrative extension they signed him to earlier this month.
The star big man is a legitimate two-way force that can swing a championship race and that was on display this past postseason as he helped lead Los Angeles all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
Davis is talented and skilled enough to anchor a team’s offense on his own, but his true calling card is his defense.
When engaged, Davis is a menace protecting the rim because of his unique blend of size, length, and awareness.
In fact, some people like Jason Timpf of The Volume believe that Davis belongs in the conversation of the best defensive player of this generation.
“He’s the best defensive player of this era when he’s healthy,” Timpf said.
“He's the best defensive player of this era when he's healthy.”
– @_JasonLT on Anthony Davis
(Via @TheVolumeSports )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 29, 2023
While it might sound like hyperbole because Davis hasn’t won a Defensive Player of the Year award, there’s no denying the impact he can have on a game just defensively.
The All-Star’s mobility allows him to help and recover in the paint flawlessly, while he is also able to comfortably switch onto smaller players and hang on the perimeter.
There aren’t many players in the NBA that can do the things that Davis can do on defense and it bears out in the numbers as the Lakers were one of the best defensive teams last season.
If Davis is able to replicate that kind of production next season, then Los Angeles should feel good about their championship aspirations.
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