1. Anthony Davis averages at least 28 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game
Anthony Davis was close to these averages last season and he will take step up statistically in his second year with the Lakers. Davis reached an entirely new level of play in the NBA Playoffs, leading the playoffs in Win Shares, and will continue that momentum into the 2020-21 season.
Davis averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game and I think that he will get better in all three categories and for good reason as well.
Davis is going to score more as the team is probably going to be more cautious with LeBron James’ playing time after such a small offseason, leading AD to have a slightly more impactful role, leading to a modest two points per game more.
As for the rebounds and blocks, Davis will probably get more time as a five this season than he did last season. Montrezl Harrell is essentially the team’s backup five but does not profile like a traditional five.
The Lakers are better off letting AD defend guys like Nikola Jokic when they are both on the court. Because of that added dynamic, I do not think it is unreasonable to expect AD to average 0.7 more rebounds and 0.2 more blocks per game.
If he can accomplish this then he will become just the second player in Lakers history to average these numbers in a season, joining Shaquille O’Neal, who did so in years one and two of the threepeat.
Ironically enough, Davis is already one of the six players in NBA history to average 28 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in a season, doing so during the 2017-18 season.