Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James said earlier in the season that he felt his teammate Anthony Davis was the Defensive Player of the Year.
After Davis blocked seven shots in the Lakers' win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, James doubled down on his statement:
“He does everything,” James said of Davis, via ESPN Los Angeles. “He's able to protect the rim, he's able to guard in the post, he's able to switch out on guards, he's able to block shots from guys shooting floaters and runners, he gets steals, I mean he does everything defensively for us. That's why he's Defensive Player of the Year.”
Davis has never won a Defensive Player of the Year award at any point of his career, but now seems as good as time as any.
In his first season in Los Angeles, the big man is averaging 26.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.6 steals over 34.6 minutes per game while shooting 51.8 percent from the floor, 32.1 percent from three-point range and 84.6 percent from the free-throw line.
The 26-year-old, who played his collegiate basketball at the University of Kentucky, was originally selected by the New Orleans Hornets with the first overall selection of the 2012 NBA Draft.
Davis spent the first seen seasons of his career in New Orleans, only making a pair of playoff appearances and winning just one postseason series during his tenure.
The seven-time All-Star then requested a trade midway through last season and was eventually dealt to the Lakers last June.
Los Angeles is 42-12 on the season and sits in first place in the Western Conference.
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