Long before he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Davis had established himself as a true franchise player. Selected at No. 1 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, Davis spent seven seasons leading the New Orleans Pelicans to some of the best seasons in franchise history.
When first-year head coach JJ Redick declared that the Lakers would run their offense through Davis rather than LeBron James, however, a tone of uncertainty prevailed among fans.
Even at 39 years of age, James continues to be one of the most indescribably dominant players in the NBA. When he decides that it's time to take over, there aren't many in the NBA who have a prayer of slowing him down—whether as a scorer, passer, or situational defender.
The Lakers are as aware of James' capabilities as any team in the NBA, having won a championship with him in a co-starring role with Davis.
Due to the magnitude of James' greatness and star power, however, Davis' contributions have often been undervalued by those outside of Los Angeles. Many have praised James for the Lakers' title win, but far fewer have discussed the genuine dominance displayed by Davis through each series.
That trend has carried on throughout their time as teammates, but Redick's gamble on making a necessary change for the present and future of the franchise is proving that only one believer was necessary.
JJ Redick vindicated for backing Anthony Davis as Lakers' franchise player
Davis has been otherworldly early in 2024-25, dominating as a scorer and continuing to play at an elite level on defense. He's currently averaging 30.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.5 offensive boards, 2.8 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 three-point field goals made on .567/.414/.784 shooting.
Davis ranks No. 2 in the NBA in scoring, No. 7 in rebounding, and No. 5 in blocks on a per-game basis, and is currently No. 6 among centers in steals.
Beyond the numbers, Davis has been everywhere for the Lakers. Whether they need a stop, a bucket, a rebound, or a simple change in tone and energy, he's stepped up and provided crucial plays at every turn, pacing the team to its current 10-4 record.
Davis has done all of this while maintaining a usage rate of 31.2 percent—placing him at a distant No. 1 on the Lakers, 4.8 percentage points higher than James.
James has been magnificent in his own right, adapting to the change in the Lakers' structure by emphasizing his facilitating. He's averaging 23.5 points, 9.4 assists, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 three-point field goals made per game on .515/.416/.740 shooting.
James has taken his game to another level in November, averaging 11.0 assists per contest and producing a career-best four consecutive games with a triple-double.
The successful transition from James to Davis as the offensive focal point is perhaps Redick's most significant feat as a head coach thus far. Credit goes to both of the Lakers' superstars for embracing this shift, but not enough has been said about how bold it was for a first-year head coach to decide that the time was now for one of the greatest players in NBA history to change their role.
It's still early, but a 10-4 record, Davis playing at an MVP level, and James thriving in his No. 2 position are all factors that have confirmed the Lakers made the right choice in hiring Redick.