Anthony Davis joins elite Lakers company in Game 1 vs. Grizzlies

Anthony Davis joined three dominant Lakers big men of the past with a sensational stat line against the Grizzlies on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Lakers are well known for their illustrious history and tradition of having Hall of Fame big men.

First it was George Mikan, who led them to five NBA championships when they were based in Minneapolis. Then in the late 1960s, the legendary Wilt Chamberlain came to town and delivered the Lakers their first world title since moving to Southern California.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal followed, and both delivered championships in bunches. Pau Gasol added back-to-back rings of his own in 2009 and 2010.

Anthony Davis is in line to join that incredible succession of Hall of Fame big men, but some refuse to put him among such company.

However, on Sunday in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, he served notice he deserves such an accolade.

In posting 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots in his team’s 128-112 victory, he became only the fourth Laker to record at least 20 points, 10 boards and five blocks in a playoff game, joining Abdul-Jabbar, O’Neal and Gasol.

Chamberlain would’ve likely also been in this category, but blocked shots were not officially kept as a stat until just after his retirement.

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