This Day in Lakers History: AD on the Way

And the rest has been history!

Every so often, there are moves made in sports that define an era for a team. For the current ideation of the Los Angeles Lakers, there have been two moves that changed their trajectory. First it was LeBron James signing with the team in 2018 and secondly, it was the team trading for All-Star Anthony Davis. Well, on this day four years ago today, Davis joined the purple and gold. 

The Pelicans have agreed to a deal to trade Anthony Davis to the Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks – including the No. 4 overall in 2019 Draft, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 15, 2019

It was rumored for awhile that James and Davis may team up out in Los Angeles but when the news broke, it was a celebration for Laker fans. They finally had a team capable of winning a championship again and not too much longer, they did bring another title to the city.

Davis made an instant impact with the Lakers, averaging 26.1 points and 9.3 rebounds in his first season with the team. But it was his play in the playoffs that helped him become a Laker legend. Davis was special in the NBA bubble for the team and helped them capture title number 17.

Against the Denver Nuggets in game two of the 2020 Western Conference Finals, Davis hit a massive buzzer beater to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead in the series. It was one of his crowning moments of that playoff run and will forever be one of the better shots in Lakers history. 

That time Anthony Davis hit a game-winner against the Nuggets in the WCF back in the bubble 😤 pic.twitter.com/7zw8h2z493

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 13, 2023

Since the 2020 title season, Davis has dealt with a ton of injures that have limited his time on the court. But when healthy, he remains one of the more dominant players around the NBA. His abilities on defense remain as one of the, if not the best in the game. 

Yet, somehow there are still those out there that say the Lakers gave up too much to acquire his services. But to that, all I'd say is that the Lakers have a title during his time in LA and the Pelicans haven't made it past the first round of the playoffs. You can never overpay for a star on the level of Davis in my opinion because of the massive value he brings to a team. 

Why am I still seeing discussion about which team won the Anthony Davis trade. This has been over for awhile now

— Matthew Levine (@Levine1445) May 31, 2023

Davis is eligible for another extension with Los Angeles this summer and all signs are pointing to the two sides staying together. The Lakers are better off with Davis on the roster and vice versa. They need each other and Davis will be a key member of this franchise for the foreseeable future. 

Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!