Getty Image / Ezra Shaw
When he’s healthy and engaged, Anthony Davis is one of the best players on the planet. The center is a career 24.5 points, 10 rebounds per game guy, and was even better this year. In 56 games, he averaged 25.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest, some of the top marks in the league. But, that means he missed 26 games too, something he does all-too-often in his career.
56 games this year is actually the most he has played in the last three seasons, as Anthony Davis can’t seem to stay healthy. It’s usually not major injuries like an ACL tear or torn muscles. But, it seems to be a lot of pulls, strains, and other ailments of that nature.
But, when he’s in the lineup alongside teammate LeBron James, they can be as good as anyone. The two of them won the 2020 NBA Chamionship in the bubble, and when both got healthy down the stretch this year they helped the Lakers rally into the playoffs and cruise past the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round in six games.
In their second round series agianst the Golden State Warriors, Davis has been dominant, and the Lakers took a 3-1 series lead back to San Francisco to try to knock out Steph Curry and the bunch. But, after a spurt at the end of the 2nd quarter by the defending champion Warriors, the Lakers trailed the rest of the way. And, early in the fourth quarter, disaster may have struck.
Anthony Davis took this shot to the head from Kevon Looney that seemed pretty innocuous.
Anthony Davis did not return to Game 5 after getting hit in the head by Kevon Looney. pic.twitter.com/2bOZ2h9U7q
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 11, 2023
But, he had to have been taken back to the locker room in a wheelchair, presumably due to balance issues.
Anthony Davis was not able to leave on his own power and left on a wheelchair due to his head injury 🤕
(@ChrisBHaynes) pic.twitter.com/FIPNRGBOIX
— The Laker Files (@LakerFiles) May 11, 2023
Now, attention goes to the status of Anthony Davis for a pivotal game 6 back in Los Angeles.
FINAL: Warriors 121, #Lakers 106
LA is unable to close out the defending champs, but all eyes will be on Anthony Davis' status for Game 6.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 11, 2023
There is some optimism in the Lakers camp, as Coach Darvin Ham says that he is doing better already, and teammate Austin Reaves thinks he will play in game 6.
Darvin Ham speaks on Anthony Davis’s head injury and the importance of recovery for Game 6 on Friday. pic.twitter.com/L79lTdUR0b
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) May 11, 2023
The massive game 6 will be Friday night.