After a huge performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, Anthony Davis was looking to keep the good vibes going in Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. But of course, with Davis, nothing is ever simple. Though the Lakers listed him on the injury report with a foot issue, they still tagged him as probable to play. No surprise here, Davis was good to go at tip-off.

However, things took a turn quickly. Davis only played 10 minutes in the first half, scoring 4 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and adding a steal. But before halftime, an abdomen injury forced him off the court to get checked out.

By the start of the third quarter, the Lakers had their concerns. They thought Davis would be questionable to return, and just like that, the word came down—he was ruled out for the rest of the game. The Lakers have released an update on the big man.

“Lakers forward Anthony Davis underwent an MRI today that confirmed an abdominal muscle strain. The injury occurred in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game at Philadelphia. Davis will return to Los Angeles today and be re-evaluated in approximately one week,” The Lakers’ official account tweeted.

That means he out for at least one week which isn’t good for the Lakers. AD’s preferred position is the power forward but he has been filling in as a center for the Lakers and without him they do not have a reliable big man. So what will Rob Pelinka do? Make a trade?

Well we don’t know about that. But fans have put in their requests. Let’s see how they reacted.

Fans put forth their demands in front of Rob Pelinka as Anthony Davis is sidelined

One fan tweeted, “There goes our run”. AD has been a critical piece for the Lakers this season. The 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game he averages make him one of the most well-rounded players on the roster. Not to mention, his defense has been the backbone of the Lakers’ frontcourt.

LeBron James can only do so much, and the lack of a reliable big man without Davis puts more pressure on others to step up.

Another fan screamed, well not literally “GET A CENTER NOW”. Despite preferring to play power forward, has been forced into the center role simply because the Lakers lack a reliable big man. And now, with AD sidelined, that problem is staring them right in the face.

Without him, who’s holding down the paint? Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood can step in, but neither offers the same defensive dominance or rebounding presence as Davis. The Lakers already struggle with size against more physical teams, and losing their best rim protector only makes it worse.

“season over” tweeted another netizen. Davis been the anchor on both ends. And let’s not forget history—when Davis misses extended time, the Lakers spiral. Just last season, they were 13-20 before turning things around when he got healthy. Now, in a loaded Western Conference, falling behind could mean an early exit from playoff contention.

One frustrated fan had a rather insane take. “Trade AD & LeBron since you guys refuse to get them a championship roster” they wrote. Well they’re not wrong. It’s been four years since their 2020 title, and the front office still hasn’t built a squad that truly maximizes their window.

Running in place isn’t a strategy, and time is running out.

Another user chimed in with “GET WALKER NOW!”. Walker Kessler has been dominating on both ends this season. He’s the top offensive rebounder in the league, a shot-blocking nightmare, and an efficient finisher around the rim. The Lakers have been desperate for a big man like that.

It’s not rocket science. If the Lakers want to be serious contenders, they need a real big man.