Subscribe
Follow Us
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis is unquestionably the most well-rounded big man in the NBA today. Not only is Davis an elite defender and shot blocker, he also possesses an all-around offensive game. Initially coming in as an inside threat, The Brow has expanded his game and can now score from both inside and out, extending his range beyond the 3-point arc.
This season, Davis is trying to make a commitment to launching more threes this 2020-21 season. Via Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the former No. 1 overall pick revealed his intent to just “letting it fly and being comfortable” with his outside shot:
“I’m very comfortable,” Davis said of his 3-point shot. “I work on it all the time with Mike (Penberthy), just constantly putting up reps. And when I’m in the game, just letting it fly and being comfortable, working on everything I do in drills, applying it to the game. Coach (Frank Vogel) wants me to shoot at least five, average five, a game this year. I had a lot of good looks. Sometimes I pass up for a better shot. But I just got to shoot it.
Davis knows he has put in the work, and there's no reason for him not to be confident with this weapon of his elite offensive arsenal. In addition, the Lakers star added that he just needs to stop thinking and adapt a shooter's mentality should his first couple of shots not go down. He knows how much it helps his teammates:
”Any time I can shoot a high volume, I usually shoot pretty well from the field. I can’t let missing one or two affect my thought process of shooting them. I just got to continue shooting them, knowing it will help the team and open the floor for guys like LeBron and Dennis.”
As Davis noted, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel is encouraging his star big man to shoot more 3-pointers this season. Despite Davis' standing as one of the best players in the league, Vogel still wants the 27-year-old to continue expanding his game. Vogel also believes that this aspect of Davis' game will open up the floor more for the Lakers:
“Well, we want him to shoot them,” Vogel said. “He’s shooting the ball extremely well from all over the floor for us this year, so if we’re going to play most of our minutes, which right now we are, with him at the four, it’s important to be a floor spacer and carry that threat in that type of role. Player development applies to all players on the team, not just the young players. We want all players to grow their games. And he took a big step, I thought, from two years ago into last year with his 3-point shooting, and we’re asking him to take another big step with regard to this year.
Davis nailed four triples in the Lakers' recent 109-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs on New Year's Day. Vogel believes without the hits from beyond the arc, they would have lost that contest and dropped to 3-3 on the season.
The Lakers star is shooting 46.7% from beyond the arc on the season. His attempts are down a bit from last season (3.5 to 3.0), but don't be surprised to see that change as the season goes on.
