Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (Lakers), Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/Getty Images CNN —

Los Angeles Lakers star forward Anthony Davis deactivated his Instagram account hours before facing Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Anthony Davis has been the Los Angeles Lakers’ guiding force in the absence of LeBron James. The leading point scorer of the NBA is being sidelined due to a foot injury. In the meantime, AD has filled in the big shoes and led the Lakers to a couple of crucial victories. Despite dealing with injuries for much of the season, Davis has made a strong comeback just in time for the team.

   

The Lakers hope to return to the playoffs this season after a disappointing first-round exit in 2022. They have a tough road ahead of them as the number of games remains extremely limited from here on. On top of that, the team lost the previous game against the Rockets. As a result, the team and Anthony Davis are facing a lot of heat as the latter rested for the match despite being injury free. And looks like AD has taken a stern reaction to curb the hatred towards him.

Anthony Davis Deactivates His Social Media Account

Anthony Davis Lakers Vs Grizzlies
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – MAR. 7, 2023. Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis pulls down a rebound during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies in an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, amid all the controversy and criticism, Anthony Davis has taken a step forward after the previous loss against the Houston Rockets to protect his mental sanity. He has deactivated his Instagram account just as the team prepares for the must-win game against the Dallas Mavericks. This isn’t the first time that Davis has taken a break from social media. He did it a couple of times earlier this season while he was injured, and the Lakers struggled during his absence.

There has been speculation that Davis deactivated his account in order to avoid any distractions during the playoffs. The Lakers are currently fighting for a playoff spot in a highly competitive Western Conference, and Davis is likely to play a key role in the team’s success. By removing himself from social media, Davis may hope to stay more focused on basketball and avoid unnecessary distractions. The Lakers will need Davis to be at his best if they wish to make it to the playoffs this year.

Davis Sparks Load Management Controversy After Missing Out On A Crucial Game

Anthony Davis
Credit: Reddit

Anthony Davis recently drew criticism from some fans and analysts after sitting out of back-to-back games for what was described as “load management.” AD stayed out on the bench for the game against the Rockets despite being injury free to preserve his health for the long run. However, the move left the fans particularly upset because the Lakers are currently fighting for a playoff spot with much fewer games in hand.

The move sparked a debate about the practice of resting players, particularly in the midst of a playoff push. Load management has become a common practice in the NBA in recent years as teams have become more focused on preserving the health of their star players. However, for the Lakers, the moves do not make sense, as without LeBron, Anthony Davis remains their best bet for turning the playoff dream into reality. Further, they paid a hefty price as the Lakers ended up losing the crucial game with the barest margin.