Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis is most talented player in NBA says former Laker Chucky Atkins
Former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Chucky Atkins spoke about the team’s upcoming season and the Dwight Howard signing.
Prior to the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers season, the team went to the playoffs eight consecutive seasons. The 2004-05 team missed the playoffs finishing 34-48.
It was the first season that Shaquille O’Neal was not on the team since 1996 after being traded to the Miami Heat. Kobe Bryant would have a new role, being the Lakers go to and leader. The team suffered a few injuries missing the playoffs. Point guard Chucky Atkins was the only Laker to play in all 82 games. Atkins averaged 13.6 points per game and 4.4 assists per game in the backcourt with Kobe.
Atkins and Caron Butler were traded to the Washington Wizards following the end of the season. Throughout his career, Atkins played with many stars from Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and more. The former NBA veteran spent ten years in the league.
Atkins was a guest on the Dansportsnews and Friends Podcast and spoke about the Lakers upcoming season. “I think the Lakers have a decent team,” Atkins told me.
“Obviously you have LeBron James one of the best basketball minds. JaVale McGee who is turning into a solid pro and a champion. Rajon Rondo who is also a great basketball mind and champion. Anthony Davis who is probably the most talented basketball player in the game to go with LeBron James. Kyle Kuzma is going to have a breakout season this year. The GM has done a great job to put the pieces together. Now they have to gel and stay healthy.”
Davis’ talent is on another level. The 6’10” forward was top ten in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots this past season while dealing with injuries. There is no question that he definitely is one of the most talented players in the league.
He is a complete player who is dominant on both sides of the ball. Pairing him with LeBron will be a force to be reckoned with and gives the Lakers one of the strongest frontcourts in the NBA.
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Atkins would later speak on the Dwight Howard signing which had mixed reactions from fans and media members. Whether Dwight was the right player to join this Lakers team after the DeMarcus Cousins injury. When asked if he thought Dwight Howard was the right person for the Lakers, Atkins said “I do.”
“Everybody deserves a second chance,” Atkins said. “They are not asking Dwight Howard to be the Dwight Howard of the 2009 Orlando Magic that went to the finals. They are probably asking him to come in and give them solid back up minutes. Contest things in the lane, grab a few rebounds and run the court. Be a guy to throw lobs to because LeBron will be asking for a lot of pick and rolls. Dwight is perfect in that role and he is great at catching lobs.”
He later added that Howard and Davis could play at the same time since Davis wants to play the four. “It gives Anthony Davis the opportunity to play at the four instead the five. Dwight was the perfect guy based on what they were looking for.”
We will see what happens with the Lakers and the Dwight Howard experiment. This is a much different situation from the last time Dwight was with the Lakers.
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The season is approaching rapidly with preseason starting in less than a month. The Lakers will look to shake things up this season and get back to their winning ways. It can only go up from here.