Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis put on a show in Game 1 against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, and he also made history in the process.
Davis joined franchise greats Shaquille O'Neal, George Mikan and Elgin Baylor as the only Lakers players to score at least 34 points in their Finals debuts.
The Brow reflected on his dominant performance, saying the most important part was coming out with a win:
“To be in that category is definitely a huge honor for me,” Anthony Davis said, via Bill Oram of The Athletic. “What makes it even more sweeter is winning it. And so obviously that’s a great honor, but I also want to be mentioned in categories with champions. So that’s the next step.”
Davis has longed for the opportunity to show his quality on the biggest stage.
The 27-year-old toiled for years as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, but a move to L.A. has given Davis the opportunity to compete for a championship.
Davis acknowledged the moment of playing in the Finals, but he said it felt like just another game when the proceedings began:
“When the ball gets tipped up, all that goes away and it’s just basketball,” Anthony Davis said, via Oram. “But everything leading up to it, you’re very excited. Your adrenaline is going early because you’re so excited just to be here and get ready to go out there and play.”
These are certainly unique circumstances for a Finals debut given it's in the NBA bubble, but that doesn't fazze Davis.
The Lakers will likely continue to lean on Davis as the series rolls along.
Miami had no answer for Davis, who got interior positioning seemingly at will and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts. Davis also added nine rebounds and five assists, and he put his stamp on the defensive end with three blocks.
Anthony Davis has only been with the Purple and Gold for a season, but he is already cementing his place among some of the all-time greats. He can add to the legacy by helping the Lakers win their first title since 2010.
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