The Los Angeles Lakers were wise to trade for Luka Doncic, but not enough has been said about how much losing Anthony Davis hurt. Davis was in the midst of what was on pace to be yet another All-NBA season when he was traded, leading the charge for a winning Lakers side on both ends of the floor.
On Monday, Dec. 1, Davis offered the Lakers a flashback to the glory that was and the questions that remain about what could've been by outdueling Nikola Jokic.
Davis and Jokic went head to head on Monday, with the Dallas Mavericks defeating the Denver Nuggets 131-121. Jokic produced yet another mind-blowing stat line with 29 points, 20 rebounds, 13 assists, two blocks, and a steal.
He shot just 10-of-24 from the field and 3-of-10 from beyond the arc, however, as Davis channeled his 2020 self by doing what he did in the Conference Finals: Holding the three-time MVP in check.
Davis was statistically dominant in his own right, posting 32 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. He shot 13-of-23 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 at the free throw line in a game that reminded his critics of how special he truly is.
It was the type of performance that should make Lakers fans smile, as it's a welcome reminder of all Davis was able to give to the franchise during his rewarding tenure.
Anthony Davis channels Lakers title run, goes off in win vs. Nikola Jokic
The Davis era should be reflected upon with a positive outlook. He was nothing short of brilliant throughout the Lakers' run to the 2020 NBA championship and was in superstar form yet again when the purple and gold reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
Though the chapter may not have been as fruitful as the ones Lakers fans grew accustomed to witnessing during and before the Kobe Bryant era, Davis' time produced Los Angeles' best results since 2010.
Unfortunately, injuries became a defining factor during the time that he and LeBron James spent as teammates. Davis missed 36 games in 2020-21, 42 in 2021-22, and 26 in 2022-23, although he was consistently on the court in 2023-24 and 2024-25 prior to the trade to Dallas.
James' luck wasn't much better, as he missed 27 games in 2020-21, 26 in 2021-22, and 27 in 2022-23 to effectively seal the team's fate.
Despite the injuries, Davis and James led the Lakers to a level of success that most franchises can only dream of. Since 2020, only three teams have both reached the Conference Finals at least twice and won a championship: The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Lakers.
Had injuries not plagued Los Angeles' star duo, one can only imagine what more they would've been able to achieve during an unavoidably successful stretch.