Anthony Davis Gets Brutally Honest About New Lakers Role

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA News
NBA Analysis Network

The early going of the 2022-23 NBA season has been a disaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. They are tied for the fewest wins in the NBA with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, which is a truly embarrassing outcome for the purple and gold.

Unlike the Magic and Rockets, two teams that are in rebuilds, the Lakers have former MVPs and All-NBA performers on their team.

Unfortunately for Los Angeles, there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. They currently have the worst offense in the NBA, ranking dead last in offensive rating. Their defense was strong out of the gate, but that has also begun to slip, as they are now middle of the pack at 15.

If their defense is going to falter to the degree that it has in the last few games, they will be among the worst teams in the NBA because their offense isn’t built to overcome defensive struggles.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

This roster needs a lot of work. LeBron James has already stated multiple times about the lack of shooters offensively, as the Lakers have fewer 3-point makes this season than Stephen Curry does by himself. He has not been shy about calling out the roster construction in that way, and now Anthony Davis is seemingly doing the same about the defense.

Davis has never been shy about his preference to play the power forward position compared to center. He mentioned it before the season but said he would do whatever helped the team win games. In a recent interview, he seemingly took another veiled shot at the way the coaching staff is deploying him and joined James in questioning the roster construction.

“Yeah, for sure. It’s a little different cause I was able to roam a lot,” Davis said. “I was playing the 4 then. JaVale was playing the 5 and Dwight was playing the 5. So guarding the perimeter — knowing I got them guys behind me, or weak side helps getting blocks from the weak side.

“Now, when I’m the 5, I’m the one in the action, pick and rolls, one guard in the post, things like that. We (the ’19-’20 Lakers) were flying around. We were really good defensively. And we’re really good defensively this year, as well. I think roles just changed a little bit as far as me, as far as positions. In ’19-’20 I was a roamer.

“Where I can be on whoever the 4 is and roam around and help protect everyone. It’s tough for me to do that when I’m guarding 5. Still can do it. Still have to do it. Find a way to do it. It’s no excuse. I got be better than that.”

LATEST NBA NEWS: Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

When Davis first arrived in Los Angeles, the team was perfectly built to fit the strengths of him and James. There were floor spacers offensively and versatile defenders littered the roster. The Lakers were dominant in their run to the NBA Championship in the Orlando Bubble, and for whatever reason, Rob Pelinka and the front office attempted to rebuild the wheel.

There was a track record of success with how to build a winning team around James and Davis, yet they decided to go in a different direction. It is remarkable how quickly the Lakers went from the top of the mountain top down to the doldrums of the league.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

Expect them to be involved in plenty of trade rumors in the coming weeks and months, but not in the way you think. It seems more likely at this point that the Lakers will look to rebuild the roster and shake things up than use future first-round draft picks to bring in upgrades to help them win games this season.

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