Breaking It Down: The Pressure On Anthony Davis This Upcoming Season

Lakers star Anthony Davis (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

When the 2019 NBA offseason kicked off, the New Orleans Pelicans completed a blockbuster trade to send superstar Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. The new pairing of LeBron James and Davis would place heavy expectations on the Lakers, which they delivered as they would go on to win a championship in the duo’s first year together. Shortly after, Davis would end up signing an extension with the Lakers.

Since defeating the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals in the NBA Bubble, things have seemingly gone downhill for the Lakers. In the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns. Acquiring former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook in the 2021 offseason would only do more harm than help this past season, as the Lakers missed the playoffs.

A constant in LA’s problems has been the injury absence of Davis. After taking a 2-1 lead to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Davis would go down with a groin injury in Game Four, miss Game Five, and unfortunately, suffer another injury early in Game Six. AD had back-to-back 34-point games in Los Angeles' two wins, and the losses the Lakers suffered without him showed his value to the team.

Anthony Davis prior to leaving due to injury at the beginning of his Game 6 return against the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs (ESPN)

The addition of Westbrook was not the only problem throughout Los Angeles' 2021-22 season, as Davis would only play in 40 games. The eight-time All-Star was constantly mentioned as a top-five player in the world after winning his first championship. But currently, however, after suffering constant injuries in recent seasons, his all-world status has decreased in many people’s eyes.

When completely healthy, Davis can be an MVP-caliber talent and change the outcome of games just like James, as we saw during the Lakers’ 2020 title run. However, as James turns 38 soon and Westbrook’s status with the team remains uncertain for the moment, all the more pressure falls on Davis to stay healthy and consistent.

LeBron James (left) and Anthony Davis (right) after the Lakers’ 2020 Championship win in the Bubble (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

After missing extended periods of time the past two seasons, AD’s presence and skills are needed more than anything for Los Angeles to avoid difficult playoff-clinching situations and set themselves up for a potential playoff run. With many offseason trade rumors regarding the Lakers circulating, Davis needs to use this upcoming season to remind the basketball world of the player he is.

(Cover image via ESPN)