Anthony Davis is finally becoming a leader

JJ Redick's team has fallen back to Earth after a strong start to the season. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost five of their last seven games, with inconsistent play on both sides of the ball plaguing the Lakers since mid November. 

Los Angeles' latest loss came via a 109-80 blowout against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. When speaking to the media as part of his postgame news conference, Anthony Davis called out his team, questioning their inconsistent production.

“Sometimes we look like a team that can compete with anyone, and sometimes, we're like a team that is terrible and not going to do anything this season. We just have to figure out what team we want to be for the rest of the season,” Davis told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. “We had games where we were phenomenal and we had games where we were disgusting — like tonight.”

Davis' comments were important. The dominant big man is finally embracing his role as a leader within the locker room. 

Having taken the baton from LeBron James, Davis is now the primary scoring option for Redick's team. He's their most impactful player. And now, he's using his voice to hold those around him accountable. 

The Lakers need this version of Davis. They need him to set a high standard and hold others accountable. If he's willing to put in the hard miles on the floor, everyone around him will follow. 

Davis is averaging 27.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range. His early-season performances should serve as a reminder that he's still among the best players in the world. 

Still, Davis' growth into a locker room leader will undoubtedly be facing a stern test. Losing is never a fun experience, especially for such a competitive roster that has notions of making a splash during the postseason. Davis must find the balance between tough love and being an encouraging teammate.

Right now, the Lakers need to hear how and why they're underperforming. Davis is the ideal messenger. Nevertheless, he must continue to lead by example if he wants his teammates to listen to him. Because if they start tuning Davis out, the Lakers will have a much bigger problem on their hands.