Lakers star Anthony Davis sends strong warning to Denver Nuggets
By Sam LaFrance
Well, it sounds like the Los Angeles Lakers are sick of hearing about how they were swept in the Western Conference Finals by the Denver Nuggets last spring. At Monday’s Lakers media day, star big man Anthony Davis had some words for the Nuggets, during an interview with Spectrum Sports.
“It was just a lot of talking and all of the ‘Lakers are dead.’ We get it y’all won,” Davis told James Worthy. “Me and [LeBron James] had some conversations, like — we can’t wait [to play Denver].”
Davis and the Lakers won’t have to wait very long before they get a crack at the reigning NBA champions. The two sides will tip off the 2023-24 NBA season on Oct. 24, as the Nuggets receive their championship rings and raise the banner to the rafters of Ball Arena.
The Denver Nuggets have Anthony Davis scared to play center for the Lakers
The Brow will be playing a different role later this month when L.A. comes to town. After many years of him asking, the Lakers have finally conceded to Davis’ request to no longer play the center spot.
They brought in Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes this summer, in order to give AD a bit of a break.
After L.A. signed Wood, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Davis had been very vocal to the Lakers about his disinterest in playing the center position going forward.
“Sources told ESPN that Davis made it clear to the organization he wanted to have more support at center so he wouldn’t have to play so much 5 during the regular season,” McMenamin wrote.
Was the Lakers’ loss to Denver the final straw? Maybe.
While being guarded by Davis in the Western Conference Finals, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic averaged a triple-double, posting 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 11.8 assists per game on 50.6%/47.1% shooting splits against the Lakers.