Los Angeles Lakers with something to prove: Anthony Davis
Stephen Curry is a megastar. He’s been named MVP of the league twice, he’s a constant at the All-Star Game, and Bleacher Report recently ranked Curry higher than Kobe Bryant in their all-time player rankings.
Damian Lillard, on the other hand, has struggled to make the All-Star game throughout his career. He’s often treated like the red-haired stepchild of the NBA.
Why are Lillard and Curry treated differently? Is it because of their stats? No, their stats are similar. Is it because Curry is THAT much better than Lillard? No, they’re both assassins.
They are treated differently because Curry’s won three chips, and Lillard’s never made it to the finals. With that said, you can’t tell me that if you put Lillard on the Warriors and teamed him up with Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Igoudala, that squad wouldn’t win a title. Similarly, you can’t tell me that if you put Stephen Curry on the Trailblazers and teamed him up with DJ McCollum and…… that he would be able to boost Portland to a title.
In the NBA, chips mean everything. Winning a championship is the difference from becoming a legend (Curry) to a guy who’ll be forgotten in 25 years (Lillard).
Anthony Davis is a transcendent talent with all-time great stats, but his numbers have never led to wins. He’s only played in 13 total playoff games throughout his career.
If Anthony Davis can’t help propel the Lakers to a title, he might be forgotten in 25 years just like Lillard. But, if AD comes up huge in the playoffs and he does push the Purple and Gold to their first championship in over a decade, he’ll morph into the next megastar.
The stakes for AD are huge, but if he proves himself in the upcoming playoffs, he’ll be talked about for the next hundred years.