Anthony Davis Return Update: Lakers Forward expected to be back and ball out before All-Star Break
Follow Us
Anthony Davis and LeBron James (via ESPN)
Lakers fans everywhere have been anxiously awaiting the return of All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who has been out since December 16th with a stress injury to his right foot. The good news is that the Lakers are now expecting him to return to the court before the All-Star Break. This is welcome news to Laker fans’ ears who have seen their team lose 3 straight after a 5-game win streak.
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost their last three games without Anthony Davis, showing that the team needs him back on the floor as quickly as possible if they hope to secure a spot in the playoffs. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Davis was getting ready to ramp-up to resume playing. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Lakers are hopeful that Davis can return for a few games before the All-Star break, which will begin on Thursday, Feb. 16. The trade deadline is Feb. 9, so the Lakers would love to have Davis back before then to get a better look at the team before deciding on potential deals.
Davis was looking like his MVP-calibre self this season before suffering an unfortunate injury in a game against the Denver Nuggets. However, Davis’ stellar play during the season came during a time when LeBron James was struggling. The latter only stepped up his game once AD went down and thus, the hope amongst Lakers fans is that once Davis and LeBron are back and playing well together, this team will resemble the championship team of 2020.
The NBA is better when it’s stars are healthy and firing on all cylinders and Anthony Davis has been one of the biggest parts of that in the last decade. His return from injury will be a welcome one.
Related: Anthony Davis Update on Return: When can the Los Angeles Lakers expect AD back and balling out?
Is it too late for the Lakers even if Anthony Davis comes back?
Sitting in 13th place in the West with a record of 20-24, it’s safe to say that the Lakers are not world beaters. However, there is cause for some optimism. LeBron James in year 20 looks as imperious and dominant as he has ever looked averaging 29.7 points per game at the young age of 38. Moreover, Russell Westbrook has embraced his role as a 6th man and is thriving in it. Russ is currently the odds on favourite to win 6MOY.
There is no doubt that the Lakers have a flawed roster, but those flaws can be covered up to an extent if you add a mobile 7-footer who is arguably the best 2-way player in the league. Well, that player is Anthony Davis. Post all-star break, 13 of the Lakers 23 remaining games will be at home. It is imperative that they maximise the boost that role players get from playing at home while relying on their two megastars to win them games on the road.
It’s a tough ask, but it’s not like there haven’t been flawed rosters in the past who have managed to find success. The 2022-23 Los Angeles Lakers want to be the latest in that list of teams, riding on the coattails of what might still be the best 1-2 punch in the league in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
In case you missed it
Stay Updated!
Ritik Malik
(1743 Articles Published)