Playing alongside LeBron James for the last five years, it occasionally feels like Anthony Davis just flies under the radar. Sure, its hard to match the aura of a player who is constantly in the GOAT conversation. However, AD is still one of the best players in the league, that too on both ends of the floor. But how has he managed to stay so effective for over a decade?

Well, a lot of it has to do with his physical attributes that trump most players in the league. As the next NBA season looms closer, lets dive into AD’s features that help him dominate.

Anthony Davis’ Height: Great for a Power Forward, Concerning for a Center?

It was twelve years ago that Anthony Davis was part of the draft combine and was officially measured. Without shoes, his height was listed at 6’9.25”, but it increased to 6’10.5” with some sneakers on. As expected, it provided him with a significant edge at the beginning of his career. Playing as a Power Forward while he was with the Pelicans, he was nearly an inch taller than the average height at that position. And that led to him averaging over eight rebounds in his rookie year followed by six consecutive years of double-digit rebounds, capping at 12 per game in the final year with the team.

Considering that AD was only a teenager at the time of the combine, he has likely grown since then and is currently listed at 6’10”. While it’s a great height for a power forward, Davis has played the last three seasons with the Lakers at the Center position. And that could sometimes put him at a disadvantage because players like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have a couple of inches on him at that position. Well, Davis reportedly even told the Lakers that he prefers playing as a power forward over Center. But due to their lack of an effective big man, AD seems to have no other option. And that could be the case next season as well.

Anthony Davis’ Wingspan: Attribute that makes him a Defensive Menace

Surely, some of you might be wondering how AD managed to average 12.6 rebounds last season if he is shorter than most great Centers in the league. Well, one reason is sheer talent. But another key reason is his incredible wingspan! Yes, at the time of the combine, his wingspan was listed at 7’5.5”. Surprisingly enough, that is bigger than Jokic and Embiid, who are both taller than The Brow. Sure enough, that is why Davis is one of the best rim protectors in the league and has been for years.

Just last season, he averaged 2.3 blocks and even showed his dominance in the recent Paris Olympics. And it is evident how wingspan can be a massive advantage for players as Victor Wembanyama’s eight-foot wingspan helped him lead the league in blocks as a rookie. Combining his height and wingspan, Davis also has a standing reach of 9 feet, which allows him to be a constant defensive threat.

Anthony Davis’ Weight: Necessary Change to Stay Dominant

Well, this is AD’s one attribute that has seen a massive shift since the draft combine. As a teenager, he weighed only 221.8 lbs, which actually helped him stay agile and quick while playing at the power forward position. But now that he has transitioned to playing at Center and due to natural aging, he has gained quite a few pounds and currently weighs 253 lbs. Surely, it helps him bully his opponents and bump around on the court to get his way. His transformation began while he was still in New Orleans when he realized that he was easy to push around on the post in the early stages of his career.

Bulking up in his third season, he said, “I’m starting to develop into my body now. I think it’s just happening on its own.” Thankfully though, the weight gain did not affect his quickness and added another threat to his already versatile game, “I feel explosive. I feel quick. I still feel the same.” Add it to his 35.5” vertical jump and AD becomes nearly unstoppable. Moreover, he added a lot of muscle last summer as pictures of his shredded look went viral on social media. And that led to him having the healthiest season of his career as he played 76 games while averaging 24.7 points.

What to expect from Anthony Davis this upcoming season?

With AD looking in the best shape of his career, the expectations are high for next season. Extending his contract for three more years, the Lakers have solidified him as the face of the organization even after LeBron departs. Moreover, now that JJ Redick is the new head coach, he has big plans for Davis, “One of the things I brought up with him is just the idea of him as a hub. There’s a bunch of guys at the 5 position in the NBA that sort of operate in that way. I don’t know that he’s been used in that way and sort of maximized all of his abilities.”

Therefore, there is a high chance that his playmaking skills will be on full display next season. And all he needs to do is stay healthy and available for the entire year so that the Lakers have a chance to get back to title contention. Do you think AD’s attributes will help him achieve that goal?