Just Now: How Anthony Davis of the Lakers has positioned himself in the MVP discussion.
Anthony Davis kicked off the season with a commanding 36-point, 16-rebound display, overpowering the Minnesota Timberwolves. He followed this up with another offensive outburst, dropping 35 points in a victory against the Suns. However, it was his “quietest” game so far — a 31-point, nine-rebound performance in a win over the Sacramento Kings — that has truly thrust him into the early MVP conversation.
This was more than just a scoring display. The Lakers faced the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back, while Sacramento came in rested with fresh legs. In past seasons, this typically would have been a game where Davis struggled, trudging up the court and managing a mere 15 points in a dispiriting loss.
But not this year. Davis delivered a huge block and scored 10 points, including a critical three-pointer in the final five minutes, anchoring the offense and defense to help L.A. fend off a hungry Kings team eager for their first win of the season.
The Lakers sit atop the Western Conference with a 3-0 record, while Davis is tied with Luka Doncic and Trae Young for the league lead in scoring at 34.0 points per game. Davis is shooting efficiently, knocking down 40% from beyond the arc and 57.1% from the field. Dominant in the paint, he’s finishing 82.6% of his shots at the rim and ranks second in the NBA with 15 free throw attempts per game. Add in his impressive 50.0% from midrange, and Davis is proving to be an impossible matchup for defenders this year.
In 2023-24, Davis scored a respectable but unspectacular 1.17 points per possession as the roll man in pick-and-rolls. This season, however, he’s crashing toward the rim with a purpose, generating a highly efficient 1.56 points per possession — second-best in the league. This dramatic improvement, combined with the playmaking of Austin Reaves and LeBron James, has transformed Davis into the centerpiece of a hugely effective pick-and-roll attack, one that is fueling the Lakers’ fifth-ranked offense.
While MVP debates often focus on offensive firepower, Davis’s defensive impact is too significant to overlook. Even if his scoring average dips below 30 points as the season wears on, he’ll remain a driving force of the Lakers’ success with his two-way play.
Davis is currently the league’s only player averaging at least 3.0 deflections and over 9.0 contested shots per game, illustrating his defensive versatility and influence across the floor. Under head coach JJ Redick’s new “switch everything” defensive scheme, Davis frequently finds himself guarding smaller wings on the perimeter. His length and quick footwork have been instrumental in disrupting plays and forcing turnovers, showcasing an adaptability rarely seen in players of his size.
He closes out aggressively on three-point shooters while remaining one of the league’s premier rim protectors, not only challenging shots but deterring opponents from even attempting drives into the lane. This dominance is reflected in the numbers: Davis is contesting 18.0 shots per game and holding opposing players to just 40.7% shooting across all three levels of the court, a testament to his all-around defensive mastery.
Throughout the first week of the season, Davis has been the best show in the NBA, a true two-way force that is powering the Lakers. While it’s still early, MVP narratives often take root in these opening weeks, gathering momentum like an avalanche.
With the focus and hyper-energy he is bringing to the court, Davis is sending a clear message to the league: the nine-time All-Star is not just competing for another title, he’s determined to prove he’s the top player in the world.
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