“LeBron James is slowing down so Anthony Davis will be the face of the Lakers”: Jared Dudley proposes path for AD and LeBron next year

NBA veteran Jared Dudley recently claimed that Anthony Davis would be the face of the Lakers franchise in the coming years

The LA Lakers had a disappointing 2020-21 season with their superstar duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis missing a handful of games due to injuries.

Nevertheless, they managed to make it to the playoff after barely scraping through the Warriors in the play-in tournament.

However, the defending champions lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round. Though the Lakers had a 2-1 lead during the series at one time, Game 4 saw AD succumb to a groin injury that clearly changed the fortunes of the franchise.

Ben McLemore Says Lakers Would Still Be in Playoffs if Anthony Davis Was Healthy https://t.co/MkCWz5UFU2

— TMZ (@TMZ) June 13, 2021

The 8x NBA All-Star had a plethora of injuries this season that robbed him a year of his prime. These injuries included calf contusions, jammed toe, and also a reaggravated Achilles, which led to him missing 30 games during the regular season.

Also read: “LeBron James and Anthony Davis are officially on vacation”: Both Lakers superstars will look to rehab and not join Team USA for this year’s Tokyo Olympics

Anthony Davis is a top 5 NBA player

AD played a major role in the Lakers’ quest for the 2020 NBA championship. The 8x NBA All-Star played at an MVP level in the 2020 Orlando Bubble.

Davis averaged 26.2 PPG, 9.4RPG, and 1.4 BPG with a 53.8% shooting from the field. One of his iconic moments during the Bubble was his winning buzzer-beater in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets in the western conference finals.

During the finals against the Miami Heat, AD shot 57.1% from the field. In only, his first year with the Lakers, AD captured the coveted 2020 NBA championship.

Laker teammate Jared Dudley had this to say about Davis’ future with the franchise as superstar LeBron James continues to age:

“That’s why you have Anthony Davis. That’s where he has to take the torch, and that’s where he will take the torch next year.” Big summer (for him) taking care of his body, getting to the right point to where we need him for him to lead and get back to a First-Team, All-NBA player, That’s what we expect. That’s what he expects from himself”.

Also read: “Thank you Lakers nation for adding to the book of Trezz”: Montrezl Harrell hints at leaving the side of LeBron James and Anthony Davis next season

The early-round exit has given Davis a good amount of time to recover from his injuries. Though the 2020-21 NBA season was a disappointing year for the former champion, there is no doubt that he will make a strong resurgence in the 2021-22 NBA season.