In the aftermath of the Lakers' crushing defeat against the Nuggets on Monday, former Denver coach George Karl felt it appropriate to share his thoughts on Anthony Davis' all-time ranking. In a post on X, he took a shot at the Lakers big man and challenged his place as one of the league's Top 75 players.
"Nuggets fans, as u watch the final 2-3 games of this Lakers series, remember that the great Alex English wasn’t voted a top 75 NBA all-time player but Anthony Davis was," wrote Karl.
Anthony Davis was named to the NBA's special 75th anniversary roster a few years back and many would argue that he's earned that honor as a 9x All-Star, 4x All-NBA player, and NBA champion. He's been considered one of the best big men in the game for years now, but with only one championship to his name, there is still some room to doubt his rank among the all-time greats.
For George Karl, the Lakers' continued struggles in the playoffs are just proof that he doesn't belong on the Top 75 list. Instead, he seems to believe that Alex English deserved the nod. English, a 15-year veteran, is a Hall of Famer best known for his time with the Nuggets, where he averaged 25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game as an 8x All-Star.
English was perhaps among the most glaring snubs from the NBA's Top 75 but Anthony Davis has a pretty solid case as well. Besides being an NBA champion, what he's done on the Lakers over the past five seasons is more than enough to put him on par with some of the greatest big men ever.
Of course, with just a few long post-season run to date, Davis' career is still lacking in some areas and he's overdue for some real success with the Purple and Gold. For better or worse, these next few years will be his last chance to make a statement on his legacy and prove to everyone that the title run in 2020 was more than just a one-off fluke.
This Is A Legacy Series For Anthony Davis
The Lakers have lost 10 straight games against the Denver Nuggets and not even a 20-point lead could snap that streak for Game 2 on Monday. Despite the team's early playoff struggles, Anthony Davis has been doing his part with averages of 32 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in the first two games.
By all accounts, Davis has been the catalyst for this Lakers team and his presence on the inside is arguably the only reason they've even gotten this far. Without him, the Lakers would be reliant on LeBron James to carry the load for them.
Even so, it seems some critics aren't sold on Davis as an elite playoff performer. With a history of brutal injuries and an underwhelming series, Davis goes into Game 3 with something to prove and he'll be doing everything he can to avoid tainting his resume by being swept to the same team two years in a row.
At 31 years old now, Anthony Davis only has so much time left in his NBA journey and this series could set the stage for how he finishes. At the very least, losses in Games 3 and 4 will mean the end of this season and it will mark another wasted campaign for the Purple and Gold. It's up to the superstar big man to beat the odds, prove the doubters wrong, and will his team to victory when they need it the most.
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