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Lakers: Is Pelicans-Era Anthony Davis Ever Coming Back?

Lakers big man Anthony Davis is looking more like a shell of his former self

Ryan Menzie

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When the Lakers traded away Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, multiple unprotected first round draft picks and pick swaps for their star big man Anthony Davis, it seemed like a risk worth taking. During his time with the Pelicans, Davis was seen as a perennial All-NBA player averaging 23.7 points per game, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.

In just his first season with the Lakers, Davis looked poised to be one of the best Lakers big men of all time eclipsing 26.1 points 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game. Among all this, Davis got rewarded with his first NBA championship.

An award much deserved for the big man who seemingly had no championship in sight with the Pelicans, but since the championship season all of his numbers have dropped. Specifically, his shooting numbers. 

Davis has shot just over 30% from the 3-point line in his career but over the past two seasons has seen his numbers dip to about 18%. The need to win a championship plus nagging injuries have seemingly started slowing down his career. 

Will Davis ever go back to his original form as he was when playing with the Pelicans? 

The wear and tear of the NBA does wonders to the top talent of the NBA, but even after being in the league for 11 seasons, Davis is just 29 years old. Davis hasn't played in at-least 70 games since the 2018 season and his athletic ability is only getting worse. 

The hope is for him to find his rhythm with a new head coach to change the culture, but Davis' best might've been behind him now. Davis needs to be the focal point for the Lakers. 

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Ryan Menzie
RYAN MENZIE

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Kobe Bryant  Favorite Moment: Kobe Bryant Final Game. Too many moments to choose from between Derek Fishers 0.4 second buzzer beater, the Lakers 3-peat or game seven against Boston, but can't beat a final memory like Kobe's final game. 

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