LA Lakers talisman Anthony Davis missed 36 out of the 72 matches in the previous season due to various injuries. Thus, Davis doesn’t want to sit out in the ongoing edition and wants to give his best to the team in every match. However, Davis could only play for seven minutes against Portland Trailblazers on Saturday as the Lakers lost by 115-90.
Davis could only score two points and he had to leave the court due to stomach illness with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter. LA Lakers head coach Frank Vogel revealed that Davis had thrown up four times before the match but still decided to have a go. Furthermore, Davis was also feeling a bit of discomfort due to a thumb injury.
“He was battling with the thumb, trying to figure out if that was going to inhibit him from playing, and then he woke up this afternoon with a bit of a stomach bug,” Vogel said of Davis.
“Came back in and said the thumb felt pretty good, probably good enough to play, then he went and threw up in the back. Still wanted to give it a go, but … by the time tip-off came around, he had already thrown up four times. He just wanted to see if getting out on the floor would change it, but wasn’t able to go.”
Meanwhile, Davis was a bit frustrated that he could not contribute to the team in the last season due to his injury woes. Vogel revealed that Davis wants to play every match even if he isn’t fully fit to take the court.
“I know this year he’s very upset with how last year went and how much time he missed,” Vogel said. “So, everything that’s 50-50 whether to be in or out thus far this year, it’s been, ‘I’m playing unless I absolutely can’t play.’ He’s just not happy with how much time he missed last year. So, if he can play without major limitations, he’s going to be in there.”
Davis is doubtful for the team’s next match against Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Furthermore, LeBron James is also ruled out due to an ankle injury.