According to the latest stats, Lakers forward Anthony Davis’ average has been dropping ever since the exit of point guard Russell Westbrook.
Los Angeles Lakers parted ways with the point guard Russell Westbrook by trading the latter to Utah Jazz in a three-team trade deal. While the point guard landed in Jazz, the Lakers acquired D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt from Minnesota Timberwolves. However, the separation took an ugly turn when the Lakers passed a nasty personal comment on Westbrook.
Lakers insider referred to Russell Westbrook as a vampire who had to be cut off. Moreover, the comment created a massive uproar on social media and has received enormous backlash. The point guard’s wife herself took to Instagram and lashed out at the Lakers for the slander. Furthermore, Westbrook departure has had a negative impact on the Lakers’ lead scorer, Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis’ Numbers Drop After Russell Westbrook’s Exit
Anthony Davis has been one of the prime scorers for the Lakers for the past few seasons. His partnership with LeBron James has produced extraordinary results for the purple and gold on multiple occasions. Furthermore, the Lakers suffered massively this season during the absence of Davis. AD went off court for five weeks due to a stress foot injury. However, his numbers shot up post his return in the month of January.
As per the latest stats, Anthony Davis’ numbers have started to drop post the departure of Russell Westbrook. AD’s post-trade average is 19.3 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, whereas his overall season average is 25.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. The drop in figures is marginal yet significant. FYI, Davis is the Lakers’ top point scorer after LeBron James. With Westbrook, the center forward enjoyed sufficient support, and hence after his trade, Davis is finding it hard to score at his natural pace.
AD Refutes Injury Concerns, Says He’s Felt Good With Every Shot He’s Taken
Anthony Davis’ return to the court has not been one of the smoothest transitions. He has scored and made his presence felt. However, AD’s movements are yet to return to their pre-injury era. Addressing the issue, Davis said there are no concerns related to his foot. AD further added he has felt good ever since his return. Moreover, Davis conveyed the same to the coaches and said he felt good and healthy while taking shots.
“I still have to be productive for my team to win basketball games,” said Anthony Davis.
Furthermore, Anthony Davis explained the reason behind his rustiness. The 29-year-old said he needs to make more shot attempts in order to score more. The center forward is feeling good body-wise and just needs a little push with the ball possession. AD concluded by saying he wants to be productive for the team and carry it to the playoffs by winning as many games as possible.
