Los Angeles Lakers: Rob Pelinka praises Anthony Davis, labels him ‘pillar’ of team

Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka recently spoke about Anthony Davis and had nothing but kind words to say about the big man.

The Los Angeles Lakers made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason last month when they traded for Anthony Davis. In doing so, the Lakers became instant title contenders for the first time in what has seemed to be forever.

While the purple and gold sacrificed a lot in exchange for Davis, it gave them a much-needed star alongside LeBron James. Given that James is getting up there in terms of age, having a player of Davis’ caliber on his side will make life much easier.

Furthermore, the acquisition of Davis continued the team’s incredibly rich tradition of having elite big men. It all started back in the Minneapolis years when the team had George Mikan. More contemporary examples include Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol.

It is also important to bear in mind that The Brow is very much so on the right side of 30. He is only 26 years of age, so it is worth considering that the Lakers may get the best possible version of AD. The franchise at large should be grateful for that.

Recent comments from general manager Rob Pelinka are demonstrative of that kind of attitude. According to Corey Hansford of Lakers Nation, Pelinka commended the 6-foot-10 ballplayer and said that Davis will be a staple in LA for the long haul.

"“To sit here next to him and to think he’s going to be on our team, going to be a pillar of this franchise for many years, it’s something we’re incredibly proud of. Not just for what he brings as a basketball player but who he is as a person. He’s a person of excellence and he’s a person that carries himself in a way where actions speak louder than words.”"

Pelinka’s words on Davis should excite fans. Albeit Davis is a free agent next summer, there appears to be a strong guarantee that he will not be a rental.

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Frankly, it would be relatively strange for AD to be with the Lakers for just one season. He was especially adamant during the 2018-2019 campaign about being traded, specifically to the Lakers. He is now a member of the 16-time champions.

When the Lakers are pored over, it is hard to not look at the team in a positive light. The team has a great amount of a depth, which they have not been able to boast in recent memory.

Of course, the team likewise possesses James, who happens to be good friends with Davis. That factor alone should be good enough incentive for Davis to stay in Los Angeles for “many years.”

As Pelinka continued to talk to the media, he was sure to shed light on how talented Davis is as a basketball player. He noted just how well-rounded the former Kentucky standout is to go along with how passionate the latter is about the game.

Although that is true, the Lakers’ general manager has been particularly impressed with who AD is as a person. Pelinka praised Davis’ team-first mentality, accompanied by his appreciation for being a Laker. Per Hansford’s transcription, the team’s GM said the following about LA’s new man in the middle.

"“I remember the first day Anthony came into the facility, Jeanie and I were talking about how grateful he was. He was just walking around looking at this amazing facility. You could just see his appreciation and gratitude for a place like this. That’s what we want to be identified as, is a team-first mindset and mentality. Guys that sacrifice for the betterment of the team, guys that are grateful and appreciate things in life. We think LeBron, A.D. and the rest of the roster really stand for that.”"

The fact that Pelinka alluded to the word “sacrifice” is pivotal. That is the epitome of a team-first mindset. As good as James and AD are, it is going to be critical for the rest of the squad to adopt the same approach.

Assuming the Lakers can follow suit with Pelinka’s ideal outlook for them, the team could be extremely dangerous this season.

Without a doubt, this Lakers team carries a noticeable quantity of talent. In spite of that, establishing togetherness will be important step toward their goal of capturing a 17th world championship.

Togetherness was not the Lakers’ strong suit during the 2018-2019 campaign. Let’s be honest in that respect. However, to see that AD embodies that spirit is an extremely positive, encouraging sign for the team moving forward.