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For as much talk as there was both in the preseason and in the early stages of the regular season about LeBron James moving aside to let Anthony Davis be the No. 1 option for the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s still looking more like an equal scoring partnership while LeBron himself still controls the offense as the team’s primary point guard.
LeBron has a slightly higher usage rate of 30.4% compared to 30.1% for Davis and their field goal attempt averages mirror that with 19.2 shots per game for LeBron and 18.1 for Davis. Davis took only 14 shots in Sunday’s win over Atlanta, causing head coach Frank Vogel to say he needed more shots, but Davis is not worried at all about juicing his individual stats when the Lakers are blowing out their opponents.
Here’s what he told reporters after the game, according to Spectrum Sportsnet.
“We winning. I don’t really care about any of that. We’re going to find ways to get a shot. When it’s in the flow in the first half and we’re running, getting fast breaks points and guys getting open shots, finding guys when I do get the ball I just try to play the right way. We were up big in the first half, I’m not worried about shots, I’m worried about winning.”
Davis has been instrumental in the Lakers having the league’s top-ranked defense through the first 13 games. He remains well ahead in the NBA’s block category and while his shooting and scoring numbers are slightly down, it’s clear the trade of having individual accolades while losing in New Orleans in exchange for more wins in Los Angeles and slightly worse offensive numbers is one Davis would make again. And if you’re at all worried about Davis’ free agency, moments like this are the most reassuring thing you’re going to get from a star of his caliber.