Anthony Davis has recently been receiving praise from Ex NBA Stars. His defensive skills, which have earned him the place of the best defensive player of this era by NBA analysts have not gone unnoticed, after signing a contract extension with the LA Lakers team.
Along with this comes Stephen A. Smith’s declaration that the moment has arrived for Anthony Davis to shoulder the responsibility and guide the Lakers to an NBA victory, taking the reins from LeBron James. As the NBA season begins, all eyes will be on Davis to see if he can rise to the occasion and fulfill the expectations set upon him by both fans and analysts like Smith.
Stephen A. Smith believes it is time for Anthony Davis to step up
Famous for his exceptional skills on both ends of the court, Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, steps into the 2023-24 season with soaring prospects. High expectations are placed on him to keep fit and sustain a level of performance worthy of an MVP award. This upcoming season will have a different look, as the Lakers are poised to dominate the Western Conference. The team’s summer decisions reflect their intent to surround Davis and LeBron James with great talents, to have the chance to secure the ultimate victory.
While James’ well-being raises concern following his battle with a foot injury last season, the Lakers’ primary focus remains on Davis. In his four Los Angeles seasons, he participated in only 194 games due to persistent injuries. Thankfully, the team management board has expressed their support for the seasoned power forward, sealing a substantial, long-term contract extension this summer.
.@stephenasmith thinks it's time for AD to step up for the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/Can4OmPALc
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 30, 2023
The franchise aspires to witness Davis in top form for numerous games, leading to ESPN NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith‘s recently saying on “First Take” that he “thinks it’s time for AD to step up for the Lakers.” One sad thing is that both Davis and James share the same challenges, struggling to maintain fitness at this point in their career.
How crucial is Anthony Davis to the Lakers’ defense?
It is no news that Anthony Davis is ranked among the best defensive players of this era. He averages 2.1 deflections per game, 10.9 contested shots per game, 9.1 rebounds per game, and an average of 2.6 fouls per game. In the games with Davie, the LA Lakers were 5.5 better in points per 100 possessions defensively.
Davis determined the Lakers’ approach, as he is great at protecting the rim and switching out onto guards and protecting them. “He allows you to do a ton defensively with your schemes because he can both defend laterally and vertically,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said.
With his stats and contribution per game, the LA Lakers will hopefully get big wins this season. He is the Lakers’ engine room, which has to stay healthy and fit to help the LA Lakers win the championship again.
