Anthony Davis had some words for the Denver Nuggets.
The Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, losing in four games. The series notably included a lot of trash talk on both sides, with the Nuggets ultimately coming out on top.
Recently, Anthony Davis opened up on the series, noting that it “was just a lot of talking”. Davis also revealed that he and LeBron James have had some conversations about the matchup and can’t wait to face off against the Nuggets again.
“It was just a lot of talking. We get it, y’all won, but me and Bron had some conversations… we can’t wait [to play them].”
There is no doubt that any matchup between the Lakers and the Nuggets this season is bound to be entertaining. Both teams are contenders in the Western Conference, and even though the Lakers lost their matchup in the playoffs, the team has improved since then from a talent aspect. Perhaps the two can meet in the Western Conference Finals once again next season.
This past season, Anthony Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for the Los Angeles Lakers. He will need to play at an MVP level for the Lakers to get far this season, and we’ll see if the big man steps up to the challenge.
The Lakers Want Anthony Davis To Be More Of A Leader This Season
The Lakers will need Anthony Davis to carry more of the load this season and step up as the No. 1 option for the franchise. In fact, the Lakers challenged Davis to become a franchise leader before giving him the $186 million extension he got this summer.
“And one of the aspects that we addressed with him in that exchange was becoming a leader and being the hardest worker, and he really did that this offseason. … Training more this offseason than I’ve seen with him as a Laker. He’s taken on that leadership mantle and I think he knows that when the franchise invests in him like we did this summer, he’s gonna return that. That’s just his character.”
Hopefully, Anthony Davis will have an MVP-level year for the Lakers this season. All he needs to do is be consistent and stay healthy, which will allow him to put together insanely dominant stretches.
The Los Angeles Lakers are contenders regardless, but for them to be at their best, Anthony Davis needs to step up for the franchise. He seems ready for the moment, and we’ll see what happens in the future.
