The Los Angeles Lakers’ season-opening victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves etched its place in NBA history.
While LeBron James and Bronny James made headlines as the first father-son duo to take the court as teammates, Anthony Davis stole the show with a masterful performance against last season’s Western Conference runners-up.
Davis’ dominance caught the attention of Lakers legend Michael Cooper, who said he believes the big man is ready to inherit the leadership mantle from LeBron James.
“I think he’s ready to take over,” Cooper said, via SiriusXM NBA Radio. “But again, basketball is about team, and I think A.D. benefits off of LeBron’s ability to still be out there, read his ability to get better. But again, he’s gonna have to stand up and share that bigger load.”
“[Anthony Davis] is a great player and he showed that last night”
@HoopHall @ShowtimeCooper reacts to Davis’ double-double in Lakers win over TWolves last night
@TermineRadio | @JumpShot8 pic.twitter.com/4EvnQUmn7L— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 23, 2024
The Hall of Famer pointed to Davis’ improved durability, playing a career-high 68 games last season.
Cooper also emphasized that true leadership demands consistency and reliability night after night.
“So, he won’t have the luxury of missing a couple of games, because if he misses then they gonna miss that 32 points, 16 rebounds and nobody on the team can fill that void for him,” Cooper said.
“He is definitely ready. I think LeBron did a great way of this kind of flowing surely getting them in there, but A.D. is a great player. And he showed that last night.”
Davis posted an impressive stat line of 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.
His continued excellence will be crucial for the Lakers’ pursuit of their 18th NBA championship, especially in a Western Conference loaded with contenders.
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