Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers begin their season on Tuesday and are looking to make a return to the NBA Finals after being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the Denver Nuggets last season.
After winning gold with Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer, Davis is now focused on asserting his dominance in his 12th year in the league and has plans on how to achieve it.
“Being aggressive every time down the court, being dominant every game,” Davis told reporters. “Doing my job, doing my part in helping this team do what we gotta do.”
Anthony Davis, coming off a gold medal summer that followed career highs in rebounds and games played, and nearly a career high in FG%, says he is coming into this season with the mentality of “being dominant every game” pic.twitter.com/ZDFrCAM5IL
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 20, 2024
The Lakers begin their season at home against the newly revamped Minnesota Timberwolves and will enter Tuesday’s game prepared to lay the groundwork for the rest of the season—a rebuild that relies heavily on Davis stepping up as the second-oldest player on the team, behind LeBron James.
“Being a leader of the team, carrying us in games, playoffs, whatever it takes,” Davis continued. “We can’t rely heavily on our individual games. Obviously it’s a team effort in what we’re trying to build, but for me personally just talking it upon myself to make sure that I’m even better than I was last year.”
ANTHONY DAVIS TONIGHT:
35 POINTS
10 REBOUNDS
4 ASSISTS
50% FG pic.twitter.com/dIu6ypYrhJ— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 18, 2024
Last season, the 31-year-old averaged 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 52 percent from the field.