Anthony Davis was selected for the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He played a crucial role in the Lakers’ 2020 title win and has left a lasting impact. However, recent events indicate that Davis is struggling against top big men in the NBA.
Following the Lakers’ defeat to the Sacramento Kings on February 13, Davis' head-to-head record against Domantas Sabonis dropped to 0-10.
After the game, Davis received criticism for his performance, particularly for being out-rebounded 19-10 by Sabonis. Former NBA players and analysts criticized Davis for his performance, with many pointing out that he was out-rebounded 19-10 by Sabonis. Former NBA players and analysts criticized Davis for his performance, with many pointing out that he was out-rebounded 19-10 by Sabonis. The
Anthony Davis is now 0-10 vs. Domantas Sabonis in his career. pic.twitter.com/so8Y2Mr8GO
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 14, 2024
James Worthy questioned Davis’ energy level when facing Sabonis. Former NBA players and analysts criticized Davis for his performance, with many pointing out that he was out-rebounded 19-10 by Sabonis.
Arenas believes Davis may have damaged his chances of winning the 2023-24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award due to his recent performance. Davis commented to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin about Sabonis winning their head-to-head battles, expressing that the criticism doesn’t affect him and that he prioritizes the team.
There's a suggestion that Anthony Davis should play as a Power Forward instead.
It's been noted that Davis has shown reluctance to play the center position and prefers the power forward position, akin to Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace.laughsPrior to the 2023-24 season, an ESPN report highlighted that the Lakers signed Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood with the intention of having Davis play the center position, despite his preference for power forward.
Davis played as the power forward during the Lakers' 2020 championship win, while older big players Dwight Howardand Javale McGee played as the center. In recent years, Davis has adapted to the new trend of playing as the 5, especially when facing smaller teams that have centers who move around the perimeter. However, players like Jokic and Embiid are bringing back the traditional "big" men. This means AD is facing some tough challenges.
The Lakers' star player Anthony Davis is receiving criticism for his struggle to compete against Domantas Sabonis and other top big players in the NBA.
Elsewhere Lakers great James Worthy questioned Davis’ energy level while matching up against Sabonis.
“[Sabonis] is a big and strong guy and you have to be ready for that,” Worthy said on Spectrum SportsNet. “I see that AD had 22 and 10 but I don’t remember that.”
Struggles Against Other Elite Bigs
Davis hasn’t fared better against Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic in recent years, either. The Lakers star is 1-7 in career match-ups against Embiid since their first meeting in Dec. 2016.
Against Jokic, Davis has gone 14-18 for his career, but most of those wins came years before the Serb ascended to the level of consensus best player in the NBA. Since the Nuggets lost to the Lakers in the 2020 Western Conference Finals, they’ve had their number. Jokic and the Nuggets have won their last seven match-ups, including the 4-0 series sweep in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Davis, though, isn’t concerned by all the criticism.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I’m all about the team,” Davis told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin about Sabonis winning their head-to-head battles.
Should Anthony Davis play Power Forward Instead?
In fairness to Davis, he’s never been keen to play the center position, which requires banging with 250-plus-pound bigs on a nightly basis. Davis has always been more of a face-up big man in the same vein as Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace. He isn’t one of those burly bigs who relies on strength for positioning and rebounding.
Before the start of the 2023-24 season, an ESPN report suggested that the Lakers signed the likes of Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood with hopes of Davis playing the 5 position. However, Lakers coach Darvin Ham has continued to start Davis at center.
“I like playing the 4. I’m not even going to sugarcoat it. I like playing the 4,” Davis told the Los Angeles Times in July 2019. “I don’t really like playing the 5. If it comes down to it, coach, and you need me to play the 5, then I’ll play the 5.”
Davis played power forward when the Lakers won the championship in 2020, with veteran bigs Dwight Howard and Javale McGee slotting in at center. Over the past few years, Davis has adjusted to the new norm of playing the 5, especially while going up against smaller teams that utilize centers living on the perimeter. That said, the Jokic’s and Embiid’s of the world and bringing back the “big” men. And AD’s out of luck.
