Anthony Davis, the big man All-Star, has been balling this season. The 6-foot-10 star is putting up impressive numbers—32.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists—leading the league. His dominance helped the Los Angeles Lakers start 3-0, but they’ve struggled lately, dropping three of their last four games with Davis. But the hoopster’s absence was badly felt in their game against the Grizzlies. The Purple & Gold lost 131—114 to the Memphis side. However, there is good news now…

On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Lakers are “hopeful” the star power forward will play against the Sixers on Friday night. “There is nothing structurally wrong there, but something’s he gotta manage pain tolerance-wise,” said Charania.

During Los Angeles’ 115-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Davis complicated and worsened the injury in the fourth quarter. Before the Grizzlies game, he was listed as questionable but ultimately was ruled out. AD has now been listed as probable for the matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. Doctors have re-diagnosed his reported injury from left heel soreness to left plantar fasciitis.

This injury isn’t new for the 9x All-Star. He has been dealing with it since the end of the 2023-24 season. While speaking to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Davis said, “I’ve been managing it since this summer, honestly, and my goal for every game is to be on the floor. And I just kind of landed directly on the spot that’s been killing me. So, we’ll figure it out,” after the loss to the Pistons.

Since the arrival of JJ Redick, the Lakers have been carrying out their attacks through the 1x champion. The hoopster’s presence will certainly help boost their performance. AD’s impact on both ends of the floor and his scoring have made him a key factor in the LA side’s strong start. It’s clear why he’s been so vital to the team.

Will the Lakers be able to hold their fort despite injury troubles?

A road trip to forget for the Lakers. After a rough 1-4 stretch on the road, the Lakers are back home, where they remain invincible. They’ll face the Sixers team struggling at 1-6, without Tyrese Maxey, who’s out with a hamstring injury.

Additionally, Joel Embiid will miss the game due to suspension. With both key players sidelined, the Lakers have a strong chance to win. Jaxson Hayes, along with the All-Star Game MVP, deals with left knee soreness but is expected to play in Friday’s Sixers game.

Rui Hachimura, on the other hand, is questionable because of illness. The Lakers will also be without Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood, who are both recovering from injuries—Vanderbilt from a foot issue and Wood from knee surgery.

There’s hope that both Davis and Hachimura will return after missing Wednesday’s loss to Memphis. Head coach JJ Redick previously stated that AD would likely miss just one game, but they will assess how he feels on Friday, before making any final decisions about his status. “He was very positive about how it felt, but we recognize we got a long flight back to L.A. and we got to turn around and do it again on Friday. So hopefully the extra 48 hours of rest will be good.” Redick had said before the Memphis Grizzlies game.

If Anthony Davis, Jaxson Hayes, or Rui Hachimura can’t play, the Lakers will turn to players like Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and Christian Koloko. Koloko, who made his LA debut against Memphis, showed promise with a dunk and block in his brief appearance.

With injuries already impacting frontcourt depth, Christian Koloko may receive more playing time moving forward, particularly if Anthony Davis remains sidelined. His performance could prove crucial in helping the Lakers cope with these early-season challenges.