Has LeBron James Passed the Lakers Torch to Anthony Davis?

With LeBron James pushing 40, the question of the new Lakers leader gets more important with every passing game. The obvious answer is Anthony Davis. The 8x All-Star is already arguably the King’s best-ever teammate, and his dominance this season helps make the serious case that it may be time for him to step forward as the main option for the Lakers. But we’ve had this question come up a lot over the past few seasons, and we always conclude that he needs at least one wonderful season, free from injuries, to prove that he’s ready for it. Say it quietly, but he’s actually having that season right now.

Now obviously, a good season for a power forward differs from that for a center. AD has been playing a majority of the games this season as a center, so we’ll judge him based on that.

Anthony Davis’ resurgence

AD’s start to the season was less than memorable. Scoreless in the second half of the opening game apparently impacted his confidence. It didn’t help that his performance was so poor, that even Skip Bayless rushed to LeBron’s aid by criticizing the Brow. With the buzz around LeBron’s retirement, and how Davis would need to step up this season at an all-time high, maybe it was a bit too much for him.

To be fair to him, being told that you need to outperform the greatest player ever is a tough task, no matter how talented you are. But Davis responded well and was instrumental in the Lakers’ In-Season Tournament success. He had a monstrous 41-point game in the final (which sadly didn’t “officially” occur).

The biggest thing to note is that AD is actually outscoring LeBron (25.2 ppg to 24.7 ppg). It marks the first time in his career that James isn’t the primary scorer on his team, and his chemistry with Davis is clear for all to see. He actively wants AD to improve and is always coaching from the sidelines as the game goes on. Davis’ offensive game has improved this season. He’s still a solid rim protector and is quietly making a case for the DPOY. The pride that he takes in defense is something he’s spoken about multiple times, and the way he moves on offense, it’s clear to see he’d score a lot more if he wanted to.

While he’s been unlucky with foul calls (an average of 7.2 FTA per game is stunningly low when you consider how inside dominant he is, and how often players like Joel Embiid attempt a free throw – 11.9) AD has improved from just a lob threat to an all-around offensive hub.

His ability to draw in the double team and find the open man was on perfect display during the matchup with the Mavericks, with him grabbing 9 assists in the game. King James even joked in the post-game interviews that AD was picking up some of his skills. But with so much to be happy about, why isn’t AD considered one of the best players in the NBA right now? Truth is, the only reason Davis doesn’t get the appreciation he deserves is the preconceived notion that he’s frequently injured.

The Brow is healthier than ever

Indeed, AD has not been lucky with injuries. Since the Lakers’ 2020 bubble triumph, Davis has played 132 games. That means he’d missed 114 games over 3 separate seasons, which is a worrying stat for a player so important for his team. This season, however, he’s been tremendously lucky with injuries (or lack thereof). Out of 42 games (43 if you count the In-Season Tournament Final), Davis has played 40 (+1 for the IST Final). His availability hasn’t been this good since the bubble, and unfortunately for him, the Lakers haven’t been able to capitalize.

Be it poor games from other players, injuries to other roster members, or just a straight-up better-coached team, the Lakers are 21-21 right now. They’re currently 10th in the West, and if things stay the same, they’ll need to go through another play in tournament to qualify for the playoffs.

Truth be told, Darvin Ham and the Lakers NEED to take advantage of this. AD and James have never been this healthy. The West is particularly stacked this year, but they have a good record against teams higher than .500. That shows 2 things.

The first is that the roster is clearly talented. Their starting 5 i.e. LeBron, AD, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Jarred Vanderbilt got them all the way to the WCF last season. And the addition of Taurean Prince is a splitting issue with the fanbase, with many claiming that his offensive prowess isn’t enough to cover his defensive frailties. Bad luck with injuries (Gabe Vincent is out for almost 2 months due to knee surgery) and no clear playing style, have all affected their ability to string together a good run of games.

The second, and probably more important one, is that they have a solid core with championship experience. LBJ has 4 titles, AD has 1. They’re both part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team and are vital for the team’s success. With his limited minutes, James seems to have accepted the limited role he will take up as the season progresses. With AD being hailed as the face of the franchise by James himself, there is no doubt in my mind that Davis is ready to take over.

Earlier during the season, after his horrific display against the Nuggets on opening day, I claimed that while AD was the right fit to take the reins, his injury record would prevent him from doing so. I said he could be the main option, but he’d have to want it. He’d have to prove that he was actually HIM. Read more about that here: Is Anthony Davis the Right Fit to Take Over the Lakers Throne?

AD has indeed proven to be HIM. The perfect moment for him to take over has finally appeared.

Anthony Davis’ time has come

With all the challenges that the Lakers have faced this season, Anthony Davis will never find a better time to become the first option. James’ belief in him, coupled with a string of good games, should, ideally, give him the confidence to take that step and be ‘that guy’. Davis is a top 3 center in the NBA, and the only difference between him and players like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić is that he’s not the primary star of his team.

For him to get the respect he deserves, and to make that transition from star to superstar, Davis will need to take the reins. As far as I’m concerned, James’ declining numbers are an indication that he is ready to pass the torch to Davis. What remains to be seen is whether the Brow will reach out with both hands and take it with conviction.

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