LeBron James cannot catch a break! The 4x NBA champ is often held primarily accountable whenever the Los Angeles Lakers do not perform well. And now that he seems to be accepting his changing role in the team, he’s still being questioned for not making these changes soon enough. This came during a recent episode of NBA on TNT that witnessed the cast discussing Anthony Davis’ impressive stats in the last 4 games.
For those unaware, Brow has averaged a jaw-dropping 32.8 points, 15 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in these 4 games along with an impressive shooting percentage of 58 from the field. However, for Shaquille O’Neal, more surprising than these stats is the fact that these numbers did not come earlier from him. And the person to be held accountable? Yep, LeBron James once again.
“They should have been playing like this three four years ago. LeBron is 40 years old. He’s older. I would have thought he would have passed it on to Anthony Davis a long time ago and use him and use him more and conserve your energy as a 40-year-old,” Shaq said.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star further highlighted how AD’s abilities are amplified when he gets a lot of touches. “He gets a rhythm, he can put up a lot of big numbers. So I’m not surprised this has happened. I’m just surprised that they didn’t go to it three, four years ago.”
But is it really that simple? Lakers fans know the real reason this transition didn’t happen earlier—Anthony Davis’ health. After the Lakers’ championship run in the 2020 Bubble, Brow’s availability became a major issue. In the next three seasons, he played just 132 games while missing 114.
Dec 28, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
That’s a lot of time off the court for a player expected to carry the team. So even if LeBron wanted to hand over the reins earlier, AD’s body just wasn’t letting it happen. The good news, though? Things have changed. Last season, Davis played 76 out of 82 games, and so far this year, he’s been consistently available. That’s made all the difference.
And let’s not forget—Bron has no problem letting Anthony Davis be the guy. According to Fox Sports, James has been saying for years that this is AD’s team now. Davis has embraced that role, and his current numbers prove it: 26.3 points, 52.7 percent shooting, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
How does Anthony Davis feel about being the Lakers’ top option over LeBron James?
For years, the Lakers have revolved around King James. But this season, under new head coach JJ Redick, things feel different. The offense is running through Anthony Davis more than ever—his scoring and shot attempts are at their highest since joining the team. Meanwhile, LeBron is playing more off the ball, and even Austin Reaves has taken on more playmaking duties.
So, is this officially AD’s team now? Davis recently opened up about it in an interview with FOX Sports’ Melissa Rohlin, and his answer was refreshingly honest.
“In order for us to reach the promised land, I have to play how I’m playing now,” AD said. But don’t get it twisted—this wasn’t some dramatic “passing of the torch” moment. “It’s never been a conversation with me and him where it’s like, ‘Hey, this is your team and I’m giving you the keys or whatever.’ It’s just been something that we’ve just played off of each other. And it just happened.”
Anthony Davis also made it clear that he, LeBron, and Redick are all on the same page. “I think [LeBron], myself and JJ have kind of come together and realized, okay, the ball needs to be in my hands,” he told FOX Sports. “I’ll make plays from there.”
At the end of the day, this isn’t about ego. It’s about what gives the Lakers the best shot at another title.
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