Los Angeles Lakers have been depending on Anthony Davis and LeBron James to lead the team to win titles since 2019. That was the year when AD joined hands with King James to form a superior duo in the league. They were successful enough to win the 2019-20 season. It was the 17th title for the Lakers dynasty. However, it came after a long wait. Since the James-Davis duo ended the title drought for the iconic team after a decade, they have been the pillars of the team.
The front office and the Lakers Nation would like to see the duo play for a long time and carry the team forward. Albeit, the Nuggets won the Western Conference Finals with a clean sweep. However, the Los Angeles Lakers showed faith in Anthony Davis and the core group and kept it together more or less in the offseason. Moreover, LeBron James will be 39 next December. Hence he might not play for many years to come. But Rob Pelinka feels happy to build a team around Anthony Davis for years to come.
Lakers GM Is Happy To Build The Team Around Anthony Davis For Years To Come
On August 4, AD became eligible for a contract extension. Later, the front office and the eight-time All-Star extended it to three years with the extension worth $186 million. Recently in an interview with Spectrum SportsNet, the Lakers GM noted that the front office was eager to know what AD feels about leading the side for many years. The discussion for the extension mainly centered around his character and commitment to do the hard work. Rob Pelinka states that it was significant to see the desire and hunger of one of the most dominant two-way players to lead the Lakers in the foreseeable future.
Moreover, the Lakers are looking for the continuity of the core group. Anthony Davis is central to that continuity. Rob Pelinka and the front office considers him to be a pillar of the franchise. He mentioned it was exciting to know that Anthony Davis is willing to see through the 2028 season. According to reports, Anthony Davis has a player option in the third year. It will be the 2027-28 season. But after LeBron James will retire, it will be interesting to see who the LA side finds opposite AD.
Can The James-Davis Duo Help The Lakers Win Another Title?
This duo was even successful in helping the team reach the conference finals last year. Moreover, it was a season of ups and down for the Lakers. They did not have a great start, but they managed to come back pretty well. Both Anthony Davis and LeBron James suffered severe injuries and missed plenty of games last season. However, after they returned from injuries, they were unstoppable. They broke strong teams like Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors in the playoffs.
But Anthony Davis, in particular, was sensational in leading the team from the front. He helped the team become the strongest defensive side in the league. Moreover, Anthony Davis was the anchor of the Laker’s defense. However, he also led the side in the offense. The eight-time All-Star also proved that if he stays healthy, he can alone take the side to a long distance. But the Lakers lost to the eventual champions Denver Nuggets in a humiliating fashion in 2023.