Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the league but that doesn't mean he goes without criticism. His ability to play on both ends of the floor makes him a guy you don't want to play against. Charles Oakley criticized Davis for shooting 3-pointers due to his great midrange shooting and athleticism.
Oakley: "Told Anthony Davis about 6 yrs ago 'You're not a 3-pt shooter. You're the best thing since sliced cheese — killer midrange, you're athletic, you play both ends of the court. Why you want to shoot 3s?' I heard coach of the Lakers say he should shoot take 5-6 a game. Why?"
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) April 26, 2021
While Davis has the ability to score in the post and from midrange, it makes life easier for him when he is shooting three-pointers. If he shoots 5-6 three-point shots a game it opens driving lanes and mid-range shots for him. When Davis consistently makes the three-point shot it is a nightmare for teams to defend especially with the talent on the Lakers.
Although his three-point shot isn't his strong suit, the Lakers' offense has better spacing and flow when he takes those shots. If you just look at the numbers you can see Oakley's point but if you are watching the games you can see how much better the offense is when Davis is shooting the three point shot. He often gets double-teamed in the post forcing him to pass out or take a difficult shot. When he gets the ball at the three point line, the threat of him shooting opens up the rest of his offensive game.
Davis' three point shooting in the playoffs was vital to the Lakers title run. He shot 38% from behind the arc while shooting about 4 threes per game. Davis should definitely not abandon his three point shot and his play will be key on the road to defending the title.
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