Anthony Davis praises 'big brother' LeBron James
Anthony Davis believes LeBron James has taken the pressure off his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Purple and Gold acquired the dominant big man in a blockbuster trade in 2019. The duo of Davis and LeBron helped lead the Lakers to a championship in 2020, but Davis has struggled for health since then and Los Angeles has struggled to replicate that success.
During an interview with SirusXM NBA Radio, Davis revealed how LeBron has consistently supported him. Even during his injury struggles, the veteran forward has been in his ear, explaining how the weight of expectations don't rest on Davis' shoulders.
"My first year, he told me, look, don't come in here thinking the pressure's on you," Davis said. "It's on me. He took all the pressure away from me. So, I was able to go out there and just play. And then we had another conversation in the last two years, back-to-back years when the injuries happened...He just said 'everything will work itself out. Come back healthier. Come back stronger, and let's get this thing going.'"
While the expectations may not have been on Davis during the earlier portion of his Lakers career, that's not the case anymore. LeBron is 39 years old. When the Lakers originally acquired Davis, they clearly envisioned him stepping into a primary role as LeBron continued to age.
In fairness, Davis has stepped up to the plate this season. He's been a dominant force on both sides of the ball. In 52 games, Davis is averaging 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, shooting 55.3% from the field and 28.4% from three-point range. Suddenly, Davis looks like he can carry the weight of the Lakers franchise. He's the one easing the pressure on LeBron. That was always the plan.
Now, a healthy Davis and LeBron will have their eyes on contending for a championship. They made it to the Western Conference Finals last season before being swept by the Denver Nuggets. Rob Pelinka has upgraded the roster's depth since that postseason run, adding talents such as Christian Wood and Spencer Dinwiddie.
When both are fully healthy, the Davis and LeBron pairing makes sense. It can be devastating for opposing defenses. Lakers fans will be hoping their star duo can lead them to another championship this season. The chemistry is clearly there and that's a major part of the battle. All that's left is to continue building a team identity and to execute at a high level once the postseason arrives.
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