Lakers' LeBron James: Playing with Anthony Davis 'Everything That I Dreamed'
August 4, 2020
LeBron James praised Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis after the team clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 116-108 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
"It's everything that I dreamed of," James told Spectrum SportsNet. "You know, I understand and I know the talent level that he possesses out on the floor both on the interior and out on the perimeter. He's one of those unicorn-type players that could do it all."
Davis recorded 42 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals in 39 minutes against the Jazz.
Signing James in July 2018 represented a turning point for the storied franchise. He struggled with injuries during his first season in L.A., however, and it wasn't until the front office acquired Davis in a blockbuster trade last July that the team reentered the championship conversation.
The four-time MVP signaled his willingness to play second fiddle to the former New Orleans Pelicans standout when the Lakers opened training camp in September.
"If we're not playing through Anthony Davis while he's on the floor, then there's no sense to having him on the floor," James told reporters. "... It's exciting to have such a beautiful young mind and a beautiful player but also a great leader as well."
They've proceeded to forge a terrific partnership.
Davis is averaging 26.8 points to lead the team along with 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.5 steals across 58 appearances. James has averaged 25.4 points, 10.4 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 63 games to put himself in the MVP discussion once again.
The Lakers' 51-15 record is second in the NBA to only the Milwaukee Bucks (54-13), and clinching the top spot in the West will give the team an opportunity to rest James and Davis during the final five games of the coronavirus-shortened regular season at the Disney World complex in Orlando, Florida.
Davis has a player option in his contract that he could decline to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, which adds a layer of urgency to Los Angeles' title pursuit in Orlando.
The 27-year-old Chicago native would be hard-pressed to find a better situation than playing alongside James with the Lakers, though.
L.A. is back in action Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers will kick off the playoffs in mid-August, potentially after a play-in tournament to determine their first-round opponent.