The Los Angeles Lakers have a lot to prove as they aim to get back to the playoffs after a horrendous last season. With Anthony Davis back fit and LeBron James looking to do big things in his 20th year, the Lakers are motivated to make a mark this season. They also have added some useful players who can provide support to these two. However former NBA great and analyst Charles Barkley feels that the defining factor for the Lakers will be Anthony Davis and how he turns out this season.
In his Lakers career, Anthony Davis has shown that he can be the most dangerous big man in the NBA and have also missed consecutive matches due to injury concerns. He has helped LeBron James and the Purple and Gold win the Championship and when he has missed matches they have failed to make the postseason. So Davis is a very important player for this Lakers side and hence Barkley feels that if AD is going to have a big season then the Lakers will flourish or else they will falter.
While LeBron James will be looking to do special things he will need the help of AD. The entire Lakers organization would want him to be finally consistent and remain healthy the entire season and then they can achieve big things. Davis last season played 40 games but in those matches he averaged 23.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.\
In a recent episode of the Dan Patrick Show, Barkley shared how Lakers need AD to be a top five player or else they are going to suffer. “LeBron, he’s on the Mount Rushmore, one of my favorite people in NBA history. I got him, you know, right up there with Kobe, Magic, Bird, Bill Russell, and Wilt those guys. He’s amazing, man. But he’s 40 years old. It’s 100% going to be on Anthony Davis, if he’s a top-five player, they can do some damage,” Barkley shared.
He also warns the Lakers that if AD does not fire then the Lakers will have a tough time. He even shared that AD needs to be a top five player this season for the Lakers or else they are in trouble. “If he’s not a top-five player, the Lakers gonna stink. I said the exact same thing last year. LeBron put out a tweet talking, ‘I want you to keep the same energy you had opening night,’ and ‘I will have that same energy opening night.’ If Anthony Davis is not a top-five player, the Lakers are going to be mediocre at best,” Barkley highlighted.
The Lakers faced the reigning champions, Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center and they started the new season with an early setback. It was a Stephen Curry show on the right night as the Lakers lost 123-109. The game saw LeBron James end up with a double double as finished with 31 points, 8 assists and 14 boards. Anthony Davis also had a decent performance with 27 points and six boards. But overall the Warriors were just too much of a force for the Lakers who have a new setup and are still gelling with the gameplay of their new coach and players.
