Basically everything for the Los Angeles Lakers has gone according to plan this season and some things are succeeding more than anyone could ever foresee this early in the season. But one of the pivotal moments of the Lakers season happened months before when LeBron James told Anthony Davis he wanted Davis to be the team’s No. 1 scoring option.
The results have been incredible with Davis averaging 25 points per game and James leading the NBA in assists through the first 12 games. Earlier this week, Davis described when LeBron approached him and how it caused him to change his outlook on the upcoming season in an interview with The Athletic/Stadium’s Shams Charania.
Transcribed by Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll
“It was tough because I had done it in New Orleans, but that was because it was like ‘AD you have to.’ Now it’s like, ‘well all right, we’re gonna split this 50/50. And when (LeBron) came he was like ‘nah, this is yours. I’ll play the second guy. We’re going through you.’ … And then it’s the Lakers … There’s a bigger spotlight, the media is bigger, ‘does AD have what it takes?’ … I really had to really wrap my head around ‘this is going to be a fun year. It’s not going to be tough, it’s not going to be hard, it’s going to be fun. Let’s have fun with it.’ So I tell him all the time, ‘most importantly, no matter what we do, let’s have fun. Let’s enjoy this.’”
So far this season has been one long exercise in the Lakers rediscovering fun on the court and for their fans. After the last time things went when the Lakers were told “this is going to be fun,” Davis’ embrace of that mindset heading into the season and LeBron’s embrace of setting the table for him is a refreshing change for the Lakers after six dormant seasons for the NBA’s glamour franchise.