Anthony Davis is gearing up for his first full season with the Dallas Mavericks, and the NBA world waits to see how far he can lead the team.
He has been Robin to LeBron James’ Batman since signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019, but when Anthony Davis was traded for Luka Doncic, he became the outright leader and veteran on the Dallas Mavericks.
Questions about his ability to fulfill that role surfaced when Davis arrived at training camp overweight. The 2020 NBA Champion weighed in at 268 pounds, 15 more than last season’s listed weight.
Davis was confident that he would play his way into shape, but the optics aren’t great considering this is his first full season with his new team.
However, Kendrick Perkins thinks that amid the discussions about whether Davis is out of shape, the NBA world has forgotten something about him.
Photo by Candice Ward/Getty ImagesWhat Kendrick Perkins says people forgot about Anthony Davis
Davis is in the discussion for being the best defensive player on the planet. He can guard all five positions, has led the NBA in blocks on three occasions, and is a five-time All-Defensive player.
His injury issues aside, Davis is one of the most dominant forwards to ever grace the NBA, and he was a pivotal part of the Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship. But when he was traded to the Mavericks, the story was Doncic, not Davis.
Perkins said on NBA Today that people have forgotten how good Davis really is. He explained, “I think AD is going to have one of those seasons. I feel like he feels disrespected because we talk about this Luka trade, it was almost like he was a throwaway.
“And we forget that he’s one of the most skilled power forwards ever to play the game of basketball. His defensive impact, he’s one of those guys that can win defensive player of the year all the time.”
Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd discussed Davis’ defensive impact. He said that the team could become one of the best rim-protecting units in the NBA with him in the frontcourt.
But after praising Davis’ ability, Perkins still raised one major question about him going into next season.
What Kendrick Perkins still needs to see from Anthony Davis this season
When the Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg with the number one pick, the emphasis on Davis’ leadership increased tenfold. He’s projected to be a generational talent in the league and is blessed with elite veteran leadership in Davis and Irving as teammates.
In theory, Flagg is in the perfect position to have an incredible rookie season. But that depends on Davis’ ability to be the leader in this locker room.
Perkins explained, “I want AD to show us that he can take that leap towards being a leader. You spent four and a half seasons with LeBron James. You’ve played with Rajon Rondo and won a championship with Rajon Rondo.
“Can you come in, can you be that voice? Are you ready to take that step and be a voice in the locker room as well, and lead by example?”
Davis has shown a reluctance to play that role in recent seasons. James wanted Davis to lead the Lakers, according to reports, but instead, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer ended up carrying the torch for longer than he would have ideally liked.
But there’s no one for Davis to turn to to lead this team. Now is the time for him to take that mantle and take Dallas on a playoff run alongside Flagg and Irving.