Anthony Davis Has Returned As The Brow

By: Melo Williams 

Just when the talks got louder in Laker land about “Anthony Street Clothes Davis” (AD) health, body, and if he was still that top-tier player the Lakers gave up so much capital for, no sooner did Anthony Davis enter http://Crypto.com arena and an arena near you.

Davis must’ve heard the talks loud and clear because he’s been a tumultuous problem for all of his opposition as of late.

To be quite frank, Anthony Davis has put the league on notice by playing some of the best basketball of his life. It appears that Anthony Davis is tired of the disrespect on his name when he’s not mentioned as the best big in the NBA or one of the best.

As of late players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Rudy Gobert have all been mentioned as better big men than Anthony Davis.

Though AD was battling serious injuries, most people said Davis was washed and those players are destroying him at this time. Davis was making mental notes of all the things said about him during his recovery process because he’s been in a zone. You can’t help but think that Davis was telling himself, once he got healthy that he was coming for everybody in front of him on the court and who everyone said was better than him.

The Lakers last 10 games, Davis is averaging 35.3 points, 15.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.9 blocks and has entered the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year conversations.

Anthony Davis has been on an absolute vengeance over his last 10 games.

55 PTS – 17 REB – 3 BLK
44 PTS – 10 REB – 3 BLK
27 PTS – 12 REB – 3 BLK
25 PTS – 13 REB – 4 BLK
25 PTS – 15 REB – 3 BLK
37 PTS – 21 REB – 5 BLK
30 PTS – 18 REB – 3 STL
38 PTS – 16 REB – 4 BLK
37 PTS – 18 REB – 2 AST
24 PTS – 14 REB – 3 BLK

Against Washington, Davis scored 24 points in the first half, his season-high for points scored in a half. AD finished the game with 55 points and 17 rebounds and shot 70%. The last players with 55 points, 15 rebounds, and 70 FG% in a game:

Anthony Davis (2022)
Anthony Davis (2016)
[26-year gap] Karl Malone (1990)

After Sunday nights win over the Wizards, Anthony Davis said “Great team win.” “It was a good test for us coming off a great win in Milwaukee.” “So, a good test, just coming out and trying to do my part to help the team win.”

Against the Bucks Friday night in front of his favorite football team the Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Davis had 44 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, spoiling Rodgers’ birthday celebration, while he was sitting courtside watching Davis dominate Giannis. AD had 13 points at the end of the first quarter and 23 at the half.

Here’s how Anthony Davis has squared off against the following big men this season:

Deandre Ayton
Myles Turner
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Brook Lopez
Kristaps Porzingis

40.3 PPG
15.3 RPG
3.8.  BPG
67% FG
66% 3PT
88% FT

Some other historic numbers: Anthony Davis became just the fourth player to have 20+ points, 20+ rebounds, 5+ steals, and 5+ blocks in a single game since blocks and steals became official in 1973-74.

Since blocks and steals were first officially recorded in 1973, Anthony Davis is the only player ever to have 35+ PTS, 20+ REB, 5+ STL, and 4+ BLK in a single game.

Anthony Davis is the first Lakers player with back-to-back 40+ PTS since Kobe in March 2013.

Anthony Davis joins Shaquille O’Neal as the only Lakers to record 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in back-to-back games:

Shaquille O’Neal – 4/5/2000 to 4/14/2000
Anthony Davis – 12/2/2022 to 12/4/2022

Since blocks became official in 1973-74, Anthony Davis is the first player in NBA History to total 99 points, 27 rebounds, and 6 blocks in a 2-game span per http://NBA.com.

Anthony Davis on how well he and the Lakers are playing right now. “We have a lot of guys that teams have to worry about. We’re not the team that our record shows. But any given night our team can play very well and explode. I know teams fear us, for sure.”

Even better news for L.A., besides Davis playing like one of the most dominant interior scorers in the game, he’s appearing as being back as one of the most dominant interior defenders.

Davis ranks third in the NBA in blocks per game, 13th in steals, and is tied for seventh in deflections, and while the Lakers have a lower defensive rating with him off the court than on it, the fact that they lead the league in points allowed per possession in the half-court has everything to do with how Davis has been dominating the paint.

Add up Davis’ contributions on both ends of the court, and you can understand why a lot of advanced metrics have Davis as one of the 10 best players in the NBA thus far this season and why he is currently being mentioned as an MVP.

Anthony Davis is currently averaging 28.6 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.4 BPG 1.4 SPG.

If he continues balling out and the Lakers climb the West standings, Anthony Davis will be a finalist for MVP easily. Not only will he be a finalist for MVP, but his name will also be in the discussion for Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year as well.

For now, let us continue appreciating that Anthony Davis is healthy and we could be witnessing the return of “The Brow”!

Follow Melo Williams: Twitter/Instagram @_MeloWilliams