Lakers star big man doing his best to shed injury-prone label

Heading into the summer, the biggest question surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers was whether Anthony Davis could stay healthy. Since helping the Lakers win the 2019-20 NBA championship, the star big man has struggled with a myriad of injury issues. 

Heading into this season, Davis had played in 132 of a potential 236 regular-season games over the three seasons following the Lakers' championship run in the NBA bubble.

However, Davis has been available for all but two of the Lakers games this season.

When healthy, Davis is one of the best big men in the NBA. This season, he's averaging 24.9 points, a league-leading 12.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 54.7% from the field and 40.7% from three-point range. He can operate as a primary offensive option or a secondary threat behind LeBron James. As such, his presence provides the Lakers with a dynamic that's difficult for opposing defenses to guard. 

Davis can be a genuine difference-maker when he's on the court, but his reputation as an injury-prone star preceds him. Fans expect him to miss significant portions of the Lakers season, and they don't expect him to be in the rotation long enough to hit his stride. 

Last season was the perfect example. Davis was playing at an MVP level before an injury against the Denver Nuggets sidelined him for 20 games between Dec. 18 and Jan. 25.

With the veteran big man now proving that he can remain healthy over a significant stretch of basketball that included a physical postseason run to the Western Conference Finals, Lakers fans may begin to dream of Davis reaching his full potential. If he can emerge as a genuine first option who can take over from LeBron, the Purple and Gold will be a tough out once the playoffs begin. 

Davis was once viewed as a generational talent. There's still enough time to prove those lofty assumptions correct.