Despite Christmas Embarrassment, Anthony Davis Chases Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant for Lakers Immortality

Another day, another Lakers loss. During the 2023-24 season, fans of the Los Angeles Lakers have been on a rollercoaster. After a slow start, the team would fast forward to an In-Season Tournament victory as a true contender started to take shape. However, since then, the team has been floundering. After winning just twice in 7 games, a Christmas Day showdown was the perfect recipe to alter the script. But the story would remain the same. Despite an Anthony Davis masterclass, the team would once again taste defeat.

Despite the harrowing loss in a season full of them, the night was historic for AD. En route to a dominant outing, he would fall into third place on an all-important Lakers franchise list. While he led both teams in points and rebounds, his stat line came out to read 40-13-4.

That mark puts him third all-time for most 40-10 games in a Lakers uniform. The two names ahead of him? Two of the greatest in franchise history, and arguably the greatest 1-2 punch in league history – Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

However, the gap between the three is immense. While O’Neal leads the way with 21, Davis is at one-third of that mark. At the same time, Kobe, too, is miles ahead, nearly double at 13. With 4 years down in his Los Angeles tenure, time isn’t on his side.

Even though the team is in disarray, The Brow continues to impress. Due to the team’s struggles, along with a you have to see it to believe it impossible Year 21 from LeBron James, his season has gone under the radar. However, should the team show signs of life, Davis could find himself in MVP consideration as well.

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At the very least, he could shed the Day-to-Davis allegations. But, what trajectory is the Kentucky product on?

How high can Anthony Davis soar?

Throughout his tenure in La La Land, the goalposts continue to move for him. When he first came to the team, questions about his game in the playoffs were abundant. However, after the 2020 NBA Championship, those concerns were put to rest.

Since then, the conversation has constantly been a matter of health. Due to his injury history, those questions remain valid. Further, questions about consistency also came to light during last year’s playoff run. Despite a dominant defense, the offensive output not being at par every night had questions rising again.

This year, each of those concerns has been put to rest. AD has been at his healthiest, most dominant self. Moreover, he’s done so consistently. So now the question becomes what heights can he reach in the annals of history?

LeBron was ready to crown him a jersey-retiring worthy candidate, but was he correct? The stats continue to mount evidence of the answer leaning towards yes. Do you think he belongs in that conversation? Let us know in the comments below.

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