The Los Angeles Lakers aim to return to title contention next season and view Anthony Davis as a key player for their success.
Having played just 76 games over the past couple of years, the All-Star big man has been criticized by fans and seeks a revenge season next year.
For their part, the 17-time NBA champions want Anthony Davis to be healthy for the whole season and play at the high standards he played during his first season with the Lakers (2019/20).
Staying healthy and elevating his game will be vital for Anthony Davis this season
Anthony Davis has been working on improving several aspects of his game, both offensively and defensively. He wants to use this offseason to work on his body and minimize the risk of getting injured.
The franchise knows that a healthy Anthony Davis will be a huge boost for its chances to return to playoff contention after a disappointing 2021/22 campaign.
As he continues his indivdual training, an area he wants to improve is the three-point shooting. With just 18.6% from beyond the arc last year, Anthony Davis knows that perfecting his outside shooting will elevate his game and will offer more weapons to the team’s offense, enabling them to space the floor.
Defensively, Davis’ presence will be key for Los Angeles, as he is an effective rim protector and will help the squad play tough defense and press the ball more.
Without him on the floor, the Lakers were one of the worst defensive teams in the league, both in points inside the paint and second-chance points.
A turnaround season will be beneficial for Anthony Davis as it will let him fight for his second NBA championship and will also prove doubters wrong.
Because of his injuries and struggles since 2020, fans and people around the league don’t view him as a cornerstone player for the Lakers, even though his chemistry with fellow NBA superstar LeBron James is remarkable.
For his part, Lakers’ new head coach Darvin Ham believes that bringing the team back to title contention will be very difficult without Anthony Davis being healthy and playing at the highest level.
“This is not going to work without AD. No disrespect to Bron, no disrespect to Russ. They’re going to be who they are. Bron is going to continue to be great, Russ is going to have a much, much better season, but AD, having AD available, especially with the guys we just signed, the young guys, it’s going to be invaluable. He’s the centerpiece to that championship table we’re trying to build.
His skill set is undeniable. Like you said, when he’s healthy, like he was in 2020 in that bubble run, he’s top five in the league. Easy…top three. He’s another,” Ham TOLD MEDIA DURING HIS OFFICIAL PRESENTATION.
Overall, Anthony Davis is entering one of the most important seasons of his career. He understands he is one of the team’s leaders and his performance will be vital for the team’s success.
A turnaround season will rejuvenate his career and will make the Lakers a title contender. On the other hand, if he misses half the season again, as a result of injuries, and doesn’t make the difference on both ends, then his future with the franchise could be in jeopardy.
Anthony Davis, who averaged 23.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in 40 games last season, has three years and $121,8M left on his current contract with the Lakers.
