Has Anthony Davis SURPASSED LeBron James?

The Los Angeles Lakers are arguably one of the greatest franchises in sports, let alone basketball. This can be attributed to a large part to the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers have been extremely lucky to have had a revolving door of all-time basketball talent. From Wilt Chamberlain, Erwin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and James Worthy to the more recent players like Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant. One of the reasons Anthony Davis prioritised a trade to the Lakers so highly, leaving aside the opportunity to play in one of the biggest markets in basketball in Los Angeles with arguably the greatest player in the sport-Lebron ‘the king’ James, was the opportunity Anthony Davis would be given to establish himself as one of the many Los Angeles Laker legends before him. Lebron is growing older so it would make sense that Anthony Davis would be primed to takeover when Lebron inevitably retires. However, Anthony Davis’s multiple incredible performances of their round 1 series against the Portland Trailblazers now has many fans questioning whether Anthony Davis’ rise over LeBron may take place more sooner rather than later, which is what we will be examining today.

In this case let us assume that term ‘surpassed’ is being used to indicate that Anthony Davis is somehow a ‘better’ Player than Lebron James in terms of his basketball prowess and examine that remark in detail. Most often, when comparing players, we tend to compare them on the basis of their individual legacies and on the basis of their achievements and accomplishments in the National Basketball Association. For example, the comparisons between Michael Jordan and Lebron James. For this video though, we will not be considering this as Anthony Davis, unlike Lebron James, is still a relatively young player who has yet to come even close to finishing his career in the National Basketball Association and thus, shouldn’t be compared with a grizzled veteran like Lebron James.
First, let us look at whether or not Anthony Davis is somehow a better player in terms of his impact on the Lakers. Anthony Davis is a remarkable player, possibly the best big man in the NBA at the moment. He can shoot incredibly well from mid-range, is incredible on the glass while getting rebounds and is a major defensive anchor for the Lakers alongside his front court teammate, Dwight Howard. He has had an immense impact on the Lakers as showcased by their winning percentage before and after the Lakers’ trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. He also fits right in with their system while being extremely efficient. This makes him a very valuable resource for the Lakers. His impact on the defensive end also cannot be left overlooked. Anthony Davis, unlike many of the Big men in the NBA, showcases extremely light feet. This makes him a very versatile defender, allowing him to cover the positions ranging from number 2-5. This same versatility works even on the offensive end, where he becomes a match up nightmare for the opposing team, outrunning their big men while physically dominating their guards.

Regardless of any of this, it simply cannot be said that he has had more of an impact on the Lakers than King James himself. The Lakers, including Anthony Davis, for a large part, depend on LeBron to run the offense. Lebron James has often been characterized to be one of, if not the most cerebrally gifted basketball players in the National Basketball Association, this due to a large part because of his ability to foresee plays, make extremely difficult passes all the while making all his teammates more efficient. His presence alone causes a 22-point jump in the Lakers’ offensive efficiency. This impact has benefited Anthony Davis significantly as well, who benefits greatly with a pick and roll partner like Lebron James. Lebron acts a great conductor for the Lakers on the defensive end as well, often shutting down not only his mark but relaying important defensive plays to his teammates. Simply put, although Anthony Davis is a great player who has assisted the Lakers a lot, the Lakers in all likelihood would be dysfunctional on both ends of the floor without Lebron James running things the way he does. Thus, it goes without saying that Anthony Davis is simply not better than Lebron James, at least in terms of their respective impact on the team’s success.

This is clearly reflected with the stats that both Lebron James and Anthony Davis have put up this season on the Los Angeles Lakers, with Lebron James

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