Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has revealed the conversation he had with Anthony Davis before the match against Brooklyn Nets. Davis, who hasn’t fired at all cylinders in the ongoing season, was at his absolute best against the Nets.
Davis went on to score 37 points, 18 rebounds, and two assists as he scored 15-25 from the field. Ham revealed that Davis told him he has his back before the match and he was able to deliver for the team.
“Had a real good conversation with [Davis] after our last game, our last loss,” Ham said following the Lakers’ 116-103 win over the Nets that snapped a five-game losing streak.
“And he just said, ‘I got your back, Coach.’ And that was huge for me being a first-time head coach and having a player of that magnitude just constantly try and do everything you ask him to do.”
Davis hadn’t got a lot of touches in the previous matches and Ham feels he was more involved against Brooklyn Nets.
“Just him demanding the ball,” Ham said. “It starts with that.”
Davis, on the other hand, revealed that he was motivated when he saw Green Bay stun Dallas Cowboys.
“I was watching the Packers game before … and Aaron Rodgers threw a slant to Allen Lazard, he ran for like 40 yards. And he started [screaming] and flexing and all that, and it got me some motivation before the game,” Davis said.
“Just trying to dominate. Be dominant. Knowing that we had to get this win, knowing that a lot of guys — especially with [LeBron James] out — a lot of guys lean on me to try to get the job done.”
Patrick Beverley said that Davis played like a monster on the night.
“AD played like a monster tonight,” Lakers point guard Patrick Beverley said. “And everyone played off of him.”
The Lakers will next take on Detroit Pistons on Friday night.