Anthony Davis’s role on the Lakers
Next season, Anthony Davis must be the Lakers best player.
LeBron James is 34-years-old and he’s played more than 46,000 regular season minutes. Frank Vogel and the rest of the Lakers coaching staff are going to have to manage LBJ’s minutes. It’s easy to envision the Lakers following a similar plan as the Raptors did last year with Kawhi Leonard and resting LeBron 20 to 25 games during the 2019-2020 season.
Similarly, it’s also easy to see Frank Vogel capping LeBron’s playing time at 30 minutes per game and relying on Anthony Davis to soak up long stretches of mid-game action as the Lakers primary shot creator while LBJ rests his aging body on the bench.
Heading into next season Anthony Davis will be entering his prime. At 26 years old-unlike LeBron, he’s going to have to be an everyday player for the Lakers and he’s going to have to lead LA in scoring.
The consensus opinion around the NBA is that AD is a great complimentary player, but he can’t lead a team by himself. That’s why fans in LA are so excited to see what Davis can do with a great number one option like LeBron.
It’s ridiculous to think AD is simply the world’s best number two option. Anthony Davis can generate his own shot at every level of the court. When big’s try to guard him on the perimeter, he uses his quick feet and tight dribble to explode by them and score at the rim. He also has a remarkably advanced post game that allows him to get good shots on the block over any player in the league.
When LeBron sits out games or when he’s resting on the bench, “The Brow” is going to have to run things on offense for the Lakers, because he’s the only battle tested player on the roster who’ll be able to lead in LBJ’s absence.
- Danny Green might be the best 3-and-D player in the NBA, but he’s still a role player who struggles getting his own shot.
- DeMarcus Cousins used to be a great offensive player, but even though he’s slimmed down and looks to be in great shape, it’s naïve for Lakers fans to think he’s going to ever be the same player he was before he tore his Achilles.
- Kyle Kuzma’s a very promising young player, but he doesn’t get other players involved on offense and he was in the 30th percentile throughout the NBA in scoring out of isolation sets last year.
- At one time Rajon Rondo was a great point guard, but at age 32, he’s a shell of who he used to be.
The Lakers have a great roster and LeBron’s still one of the best players in the NBA. However, the only way the Purple and Gold are going to advance through the Western Conference playoffs next year is if Anthony Davis morphs from the best stat stuffer in the NBA, to a bonafide winner.