Anthony Davis has been dominating ever since the In-Season Tournament in the 2023-24 season. But, his name has been constantly slandered in the media due to his inconsistent play in the past. As frustrating as those times are, we must appreciate what he has been doing recently. He has shown that when it matters most, Davis can turn it up to be one of the greatest players in the NBA. Even with the Lakers spiraling downwards due to poor play from the role players, Davis has been phenomenal.
Domination When It Matters
The In-Season Tournament had many fans and players skeptical about how it would and if it would draw the same attention the playoffs bring. And after a stellar championship in Las Vegas, it can be confirmed that it was a huge success. On top of that, the Los Angeles Lakers won the whole thing with LeBron James winning the first In-Season Tournament MVP. Adam Silver could not ask for a more marketable experience for the tournament’s first iteration.
With teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Boston Celtics making it to the knockout round, it was hard to pick the Lakers to win. But, with Anthony Davis playing the way he did, the Lakers sometimes looked unstoppable. The main contribution Davis brings to the team is his defense. He is easily a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. He is averaging 2.5 blocks per game and is playing stellar defense against some of the top centers in the NBA, all while rarely getting into foul trouble. Alongside his amazing defense is his offense, which is the main reason the media attacks Davis.
Anthony “Every-Other-Dayvis”
The name “Anthony Every-Other-Dayvis” did not appear out of the blue. In the most recent playoffs, where the Lakers appeared in the Western Conference Finals, Davis’ inconsistent play was more apparent than ever. For example, in the Memphis Grizzlies series, Anthony Davis in Game 1 had 22 points and was a +27 on the court for the win. However, in Game 2 he had 13 points and was a -4 in a loss. It was a rollercoaster of ups and downs throughout the rest of the games as well.
This up-and-down play did not go unnoticed by the media. Stephen A. Smith specifically called out Anthony Davis for his “atrocious” play in the first game of the season against the Nuggets. Davis and head coach Darvin Ham spoke to the media about how they were preparing for their rematch against Denver after being swept in the Western Conference Finals. But when push came to shove, Davis did not perform on opening night. The media attacked him after a 17/8/4 and a -17 showing against the defending champions. And he deserved it.
On First Take on ESPN, Stephen A. Smith ripped Anthony Davis apart.
Atrocious…When (Anthony Davis) brings his A-game, he is one of the top seven players on the planet Earth. Charles Barkley calls him “Street Clothes,” I call him “Six Flags.” He is a rollercoaster, he is up and down. He will drop 40 one game, he’ll drop 11 the next…you perform like that after all that junk you were talking? After you got $62 million?
Describing Anthony Davis as a rollercoaster is a perfect analogy of how he performed. After all the smack-talk during the off-season of how he couldn’t wait to play Denver again and his contract extension that matches Giannis Antetokounmpos‘, it was a big pill to swallow for Lakers fans that this season might not go the way they hoped. But recently, Anthony Davis has proven why Stephen A. Smith calls him one of the top seven players in the world.
A Shining Light in the Dark
The Lakers have been dreadful ever since winning the In-Season Tournament. But, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been available for almost all of their games, with Anthony Davis being phenomenal. Besides a 7-13 record since the In-Season Tournament championship, Anthony Davis has averaged 35.3 points per game, alongside 11.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks since then. He also has been shooting 58% from the field, proving to everyone how dominant of a force he can be.
His performance recently has sadly gone to nothing with the Lakers struggling on multiple fronts. It is hard to pinpoint the exact reasoning behind their poor play, as there are both coaching and player problems. But, Davis is the one shining light amidst it all. Not to mention that at the age of 39, LeBron James is still one of the best players in the NBA. So as easy as it is to bash on players, we must appreciate greatness when we see it. And Anthony Davis has been nothing but great.
