He's finally back. After weeks of waiting for his return, Anthony Davis has stepped on the court for the first time in a while for the Los Angeles Lakers. His presence comes at a critical juncture, as his team is currently fighting for a spot at the play-in tournament to keep their season alive.

As with most players coming back from an injury, there are concerns about Anthony Davis' level of play. Will the Lakers star be rusty after not playing in a long time? Will his injuries bother him and hinder his performance on the court? If his first shot is anything to go by, it seems that AD will be just fine in the next few games. (via ClutchPoints)

Related NewsArticle continues below
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
LeBron James extends historic streak with 2024-25 All-NBA announcement
Stephen A. Smith blames Lakers' LeBron James for 'negativity' in GOAT debate
Stephen A. Smith blames Lakers’ LeBron James for ‘negativity’ in GOAT debate

Davis' perimeter shooting has been a cause of concern for Lakers fans this season. The big man was lights out from the mid-range and even from deep in their championship run in 2020. However, this year he has struggled on that end, shooting 18% from deep and just 32.7 on pull-up jumpers (after shooting nearly 40% last season). His nagging injuries have also not helped, as Davis has just played in 37 games this season.

That perimeter shooting is one of the big reasons why the Lakers were so good that season. With Davis floating to the mid-range, larger big men who could neutralize him in the post now had to chase him to the outside. That allowed AD to use his speed and agility to abuse these big men, as well as open up the paint for LeBron and their other bigs. During that bubble run, Davis was truly unstoppable from anywhere on the court.

LeBron James and company are hoping that that version of Davis returns for the playoffs. The Lakers have struggled thus far without AD, as LeBron has needed to be incredible every single night for the Lakers to have a fighting chance every game. If Davis is anywhere near that bubble form in the playoffs, LA might have a significant shot at making it to the Finals once again. They will want to use this game against the New Orleans Pelicans as a springboard for their success.