Los Angeles Lakers star power forward Anthony Davis has checked quite a few things off his career wish list in recent months.
Davis captured his first NBA championship this fall with an outstanding series of performances during the league's restart. “The Brow” then cashed in on his dominance, signing a five-year, $190 million max deal with the Lakers on Thursday. Now, Lakers teammate Jared Dudley believes Davis is gunning for a new mantle: best player in the game.
Dudley said he thinks Davis will try to win MVP this season, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Jared Dudley on Anthony Davis: “I’m expecting AD to go for the MVP”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 3, 2020
Davis finished just outside the top five in MVP voting during the 2019-20 campaign, and he was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 27-year-old Lakers star averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists while also racking up 2.3 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Davis dominated on both ends of the floor, just as he has practically from the day he stepped foot in the league.
Yet, Davis has never really been a real challenger for the MVP award, though he almost certainly would have been had he remained healthy during the 2018-19 campaign.
Davis was thoroughly dominant for the New Orleans Pelicans that year prior to the All-Star break, averaging 28.1 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He also led the NBA in player efficiency rating (PER) for the majority of the season. But between injuries and trade demands, Davis' season tailed off in a hurry.
However, AD is in the perfect situation. He is exactly where he wants to be: competing for an iconic franchise in a big market alongside one of the greatest players in league history in LeBron James. Plus, he now has an NBA title to his resume.
Dudley might be proven right, as Lakers fans could see a monster season from Davis.
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