Because the Los Angeles Lakers launched the JJ Redick period with a powerful begin, Anthony Davis made a compelling case for NBA Most Invaluable Participant honors.
Davis set the tone with a dominant opening-night efficiency, recording 36 factors and 16 rebounds in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Three consecutive 30-plus-point outings adopted, cementing his early-season MVP credentials — an expectation that has lengthy accompanied the Lakers’ star.
Los Angeles jumped to a 10-3 file, pushed by the 31-year-old’s brilliance. Amongst his contributions was an improved exterior shot, a long-standing weak spot in his recreation. Over a five-game stretch, he linked on two three-pointers per recreation, demonstrating a newfound confidence from past the arc.
Since his title-winning 2019-20 marketing campaign, Davis had hardly ever tried photographs from deep. He has averaged 2.4 three-point makes an attempt per contest this season, his highest mark in 4 years.
Regardless of his dominant begin, the 6-foot-10 middle’s momentum slowed because the Lakers’ early-season success led to struggles. Redick’s honeymoon interval pale, and Davis’ manufacturing grew to become inconsistent. Whereas he delivered standout performances, they got here much less often.
In the meantime, L.A. tumbled down the Western Convention standings, fueling commerce hypothesis and questions on LeBron James’ long-term future with the franchise.
Nevertheless, Davis has just lately skilled a resurgence. Over his final 4 video games, throughout which the Lakers went 2-2, he has averaged 32.8 factors, 12 rebounds, three assists, 1.3 steals and a pair of.8 blocks per recreation whereas capturing 54.9 p.c from the sector.
Although his early-season three-point kind has not returned, and he has shot simply 18.8 p.c from deep over the stretch, his dominance on each ends of the ground has been plain.
In a Dec. 8 win over the Portland Path Blazers, Davis scored 30 factors and made 5 blocks. On Dec. 15, in a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, he scored a season-high 40 factors and grabbed 16 rebounds.
Over these 4 video games, he has scored 131 factors, the fourth-most within the league throughout that span, trailing solely Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His 11 blocks rank second, behind solely Victor Wembanyama’s 12.
After slipping in MVP ladder rankings, Davis seems poised to climb once more. If he can maintain this stage of play and regain his early-season consistency, he might reinsert himself into the award dialog.
Nonetheless, the Lakers large man insists that crew success stays his high precedence, notably after being missed for Defensive Participant of the Yr final season.
“The MVP stuff and all that stuff will come every time it comes, if it comes. It’s not like I’m going to dominate so I can win MVP,” Davis advised Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports.
“I believe a whole lot of occasions when gamers concentrate on profitable a person award, they get misplaced in that and never specializing in crew basketball… So long as my crew is profitable and enjoying the fitting method, that’s my MO. I don’t care about anything.”
Los Angeles is in play-in rivalry and has a 4-6 file over their final 10 video games. The franchise wants an MVP-caliber Davis to prepared the ground. With out it, one other season of mediocrity looms for a crew determined to rediscover its profitable id amid LeBron James’ pending retirement.
