4. He’s a great shot blocker
Anthony Davis is one of pro basketball’s best rim defenders. As mentioned earlier, he averages more blocks per game for his career than any other active player.
Not only that, but he’s led the league in the category three times – 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2017-18.
He has maintained that production come playoff time as well with 2.5 career blocks per game in the postseason. It’s a small sample space as he’s only played 13 playoff games this far, but as an example, he blocked 2.8 shots per game when the Pelicans swept the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that few thought they would outlast let along sweep, in the first round of the playoffs a year ago.
Even better, when he blocks shots, he does it the right way: he controls it to a teammate to start the fast break, instead of fly-swatting it out of bounds and allowing the opposition to run a set play afterward.
If you’re the right age, it will probably remind you of Bill Russell, who many consider to be the greatest shot-blocker in basketball history.
The Lakers already had a high-level rim protector this past season in JaVale McGee. But with Davis also in the fold, they can really shut down the paint and deter opponents from penetrating into the paint and getting open looks for themselves or a teammate.