The recent narrative around the Los Angeles Lakers has been that LA needs Anthony Davis to be the best player in order for the team to find true success. Davis still needs help from his teammates, but AD must lead the way. A recent statistic from StatMuse proves that the Lakers are indeed a much better team when Davis plays at an MVP-caliber level.
AD tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 16, 2024
40 PTS
16 REB
73 TS%
Lakers are 10-3 this season when AD drops 30+. pic.twitter.com/WmfePtwyxV
Davis scored 40 points and added 16 rebounds in the Lakers' 116-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night. Davis played at an incredible level throughout the affair, and the Lakers ultimately earned the win.
Overall, LA is 14-12, which places them 10th in the Western Conference. The Lakers are 10-3 when Davis scores 30 or more points, though. Is this statistic encouraging, however? Or does it leave room for concern?
Are the Lakers too dependent on Anthony Davis?
Davis leads the Lakers with 27.8 points per game. LeBron James has played well considering he is almost 40 years old, as he is averaging 22.8 points per outing. Davis and LeBron have dealt with injury trouble at times, though. When one or both of them is unavailable, the Lakers often find themselves in trouble.
This year, both have played in most of the Lakers' games so far. Davis has made an especially significant impact throughout the 2024-25 campaign. If Davis is forced to miss time, or if he struggles on any given night, the Lakers will be in serious trouble. The 10-3 statistic displays that LA may be too reliant upon Davis to lead the way.
Austin Reaves is in the middle of a fine season with his 16.9 points per game. D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht have all endured their share of ups and downs. The production beyond those players has been questionable.
This is a Lakers team that clearly needs to add more depth to the roster. Sure, a third star could help matters as well. Reaves is a good player but he is probably best-suited to be the fourth option for a championship-caliber team.
With all of that being said, Davis is playing well enough to help keep the Lakers afloat right now. They are obviously still in postseason contention, and there is plenty of time for them to further separate themselves from the .500 mark.
There is no denying the fact that Anthony Davis holds the key to a Lakers' championship, but LA has roster concerns to address.