Anthony Davis, the only light guiding lonely Lakers without LeBron James: a performance we haven’t seen since Shaquille O’Neal

All eyes were on what Anthony Davis could. With LeBron James out indefinitely with a groin strain, the interior will have to carry all the weight Los Angeles Lakers on his shoulders. Accustomed to seeing an erratic version of him since becoming champion in 2020, the doubts were legitimate. However, very little is enough to prove that there are still reasons to trust AD and that when he’s right he’s one of the best in the NBA.

With 37 points on 11-of-17 shooting (64.7%), 21 rebounds, 5 steals and 5 blocks Anthony Davis couldn’t provide a better version of himself, the problem was all too common for the Lakers. And it is that the lack of troops in high-level conditions made it impossible for the Californians to add a win against the Phoenix Suns, is reduced by 115 to 105.

The Angelenos fought back and came close to fighting for the win, but a terrific start to the final round by the Suns and a poor decision by Pat Beverley made a different result impossible.

Anthony Davis’ game was outstanding, probably one of the best of his entire Lakers tenure. Which made him the first player in 36 years to record similar numbers since then Hakeem Olajuwon in 1986, though he was the only one to do it with 5 blocks and 5 steals. The interior joined Bob McAdoo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the others who could amass such statistics.

The 29-year-old has had plenty of big nights, but what’s important about him is the trend. Anthony Davis is sweet and in the last four games he has shown it. These were their three previous meetings:

• vs. Nets: 37 points on a 60% shooting percentage, 18 rebounds and 2 assists
• vs. Pistons: 38 points on a 62.5% shooting percentage, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks
• vs. spurs: 30 points on a 63.2% shooting percentage, 18 rebounds and 3 steals

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With these figures, AD became the Lakers’ first player since then Shaquille O’Neal in 1999 to collect four games in a row with more than 30 points and 15 rebounds, to further join Elgin Baylor. Worldwide, for 47 years no one had accomplished this by shooting over 60% from the field, a feat accomplished only by Bob McAdoo in 1975 and Wilt Chamberlain in 1963.

Anthony Davis may be having the best run of his career for the Los Angeles franchise, which comes at a critical time for them and could lead the organization on a path that favors his positive trend.

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