Anthony Davis is the one who manages to put a divide amongst the Lakers fans, right through the middle. One half acknowledges his skills and play but there is another half that has some, well… unsavory things, to always say about the center. And it can be zeroed in on the fact that he has not been at his best, health-wise, and his inconsistent play. 

During the 2022-23 regular season, AD missed 26 games due to a stress injury in his right foot. And when you compare it with his performance between 2020-2022, it does look bad. In the 2020-21 season, he missed 36 games and in the 2021-22 season, the 30-year-old had 42 games. And that is a huge number. But in the times that he did join the Lakers, he put up a great performance. 

Anthony’s solid play in 2022-2023

The Los Angeles Lakers had a rollercoaster of a season. They started off on a horrible note with 0-5. But they managed to pull themselves together and Davis played a huge role in that. He averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He shot 56.3% from the field and 25.7 percent of 3-point shooting attempts. 

He also improved impressively with his free throw accuracy, something he got flak for in the previous seasons. His biggest strength in defense as he led the NBA in rebounds and blocks per game in the playoffs. The offense was the only area where he didn’t perform well, something that he hopes to do this season. 

Despite all the efforts, the Lakers failed to progress past the playoffs. But to blame AD for it completely seems a bit of a stretch. Whenever he was able to join, he showed exactly why he was one of the best. 

What will the new season look like? 

There is a lot riding this time around as the Lakers seek to regain their rifle as one of the best teams in the league. And Anthony is preparing himself well to step up and play his part. It is reported that “the vibe among the Lakers is a singular focus on making the right play”. 

Head coach Darvin Ham also added that this starts at the top with LeBron James and Davis. “And our two captains, they identify with that and they’re two of the top examples of that, league-wide,” Ham said. “They’re guys that come out and just try to play the right way. That’s been Bron’s MO from the entire time he’s been in the league. And the same with A.”

The Lakers begin their championship campaign this season with the opening game against the Denver Nuggets. Will they be able to avenge their play-off loss from last season? Watch this space as we keep you updated on all the latest news. p