LeBron James praised his MVP-caliber teammate Anthony Davis for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 3-0. start this season, with the big man eyeing MVP and DPOY honors
The Los Angeles Lakers have enjoyed a perfect 3-0 start to the NBA season behind the elite play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. At 39 years old, James has faith that Davis can help carry the team to a title as an MVP candidate this season.
The veteran duo of James and Davis combined for 63 points in the Lakers 131-127 win over the Sacramento Kings last Saturday. James recorded a triple-double, grabbing 14 rebounds, and 10 assists alongside his scoring output, showing he can still lead the team by example on the court.
After the game, James was about his vintage performance despite his age. Instead of praising his efforts, The Lakers forward spoke about the luxury of playing alongside Davis. “Listen, I could do that at 22, but at almost 40, I don’t need to be doing it for four quarters,” James said. “I have the luxury of having an MVP-caliber player next to me [in Anthony Davis].”
“This team is not built for me to have 16-point quarters through all four quarters,” he continued. “That’s not how it’s constructed and nor should it be. We’re a team, and we all play together.”
LeBron’s choice is currently ranked seventh in the NBA MVP race odds through three games extremely early this season. Sitting behind Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Davis remains a top contender with odds ranging from +1500 to +2000.
Davis is off to a scorching start this season under new head coach JJ Redick, leading the NBA in scoring with 34 points per game. His consistency and focus have been clear, and he has dropped 30+ points in each game thus far, setting an early tone for his MVP aspirations.
LeBron James praised Anthony Davis so far this season ( Image: Getty)
Beyond his scoring ability in the pain, Davis is shooting 40 percent from the 3-point line. He’s also dominated the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds per game, which places him in the league’s top 10 for rebounding.
Despite being elite on both ends of the floor throughout his 13-year NBA career, Davis’ accolades have never quite captured the extent of his impact. His highest MVP finish came in 2017 when he placed third behind James Harden and LeBron, who was then in Cleveland.