Anthony Davis soars in the Defensive Player of the Year standings – see where the Lakers star ranked this season.
Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers’ All-Star center, has reaffirmed his status as one of the NBA’s top defensive talents. Standing at 6-foot-10, Davis has adapted his game to focus more on post play and has bulked up to better contend with other centers, compensating for a less reliable jump shot.
This season, Davis has been a formidable scorer, particularly in the paint, a shift from his earlier career patterns. At 31, he played a personal record of 76 regular-season games, posting impressive averages of 24.7 points with a 55.6% field goal rate and an 81.6% free-throw percentage. He also contributed 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.
Despite the Lakers’ overall defensive struggles, with a team defensive rating that placed them in the middle of the pack, Davis’s individual defensive prowess has been noteworthy. His agility and rim protection have been crucial for the Lakers, earning him significant praise.
Davis’s defensive statistics are particularly striking. According to Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today, he finished the year with the second-highest total of steals and blocks combined , only trailing behind San Antonio Spurs’ standout rookie Victor Wembenyama.
In the league’s defensive recognition, Davis was ranked as the fourth-best defender, trailing behind Bam Adebayo, the previously mentioned Victor Wembenyama, and Rudy Gobert, who secured his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Lakers’ early playoff exit and Davis’s fourth-place finish in the defensive rankings may be seen as setbacks. However, these outcomes could serve as motivation for a more successful playoff push and a higher defensive accolade in the next season.
