Luka Doncic remains the center of attention when discussing the last season trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. Slovenian had several landmark moments with the Mavs, forming a special bond with the fan base.
Hence, the decision to trade him led to heavy backlash, considering they had just been to the Finals. Amid all the protests, criticism, and trolling, people forgot about Anthony Davis in the mix. AD spent nearly six years with the Lakers, winning his first NBA title with them in 2020.
However, his greatness seemed to be ignored, with Doncic getting most of the limelight during their trade. Recently, former center turned ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins discussed how he felt the disregard fueled Davis, who could potentially be staring at having a great season.
“I think AD is going to have one of those seasons. I feel like he feels disrespected cause when we talk about this Luka trade, it was almost like he (AD) was a throwaway. And we forget, like, he is one of the most skilled power forwards to ever play the game of basketball. He’s one of those guys who could win Defensive Player of the Year all the time,” said Perkins, who now wanted to see AD emerge as a leader in the locker room.
Leadership expectations from The Brow
There are no two ways about AD’s excellence on the hardwood with his skill set. A healthy Davis could certainly make for a top-five player in the league. His versatility on both ends of the floor is another key facet of his game, evident from his five All-Defensive selections.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Perkins wants to see Davis as a leader on the roster.
“I want AD to show that he can take that leap, as far as being a leader is concerned. You spent four and a half, maybe five seasons with LeBron James, you won a championship with Rajon Rondo. Can you come in and be that voice? Are you ready to take that step of being a voice in the locker room and lead by example?, mentioned Big Perk.
With no return timeline for Kyrie Irving, Davis will be the go-to guy for the Mavs, especially on the offensive end. Nonetheless, it’s time for the 32-year-old forward to step up as the voice in the locker room and guide the younger lot, especially with Cooper Flagg on board.
Planning to wear goggles the entire upcoming season, Davis intends to channel his inner Horace Grant and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar.
A new look for Davis
Injuries have robbed AD of much of his prime, with his Lakers stint being a prime example. His injury-prone nature even led to Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley calling him street clothes. Unfortunately, the injury saga does not seem to stop. Davis recently turned up with a red eye on Media Day, causing a lot of speculation.
Davis had undergone surgery to repair a damaged retina in his right eye, which was a result of being accidentally elbowed in the eye by teammate Daniel Gafford. While AD has made a full recovery, he is advised to wear protective eye gear for the rest of his career.
“Yeah, that is a mandate from the doctor that I have to, for the rest of my career. There’s no, yeah, which I’m not too excited about, but… So, I’ve been wearing them in the summer, working out and everything like that. I’m trying to get used to them, but, yeah. You guys will see me in the Horace Grants this year, the Kareems. I will have some protective eyewear, for sure,” said Davis.
Predicted to have a strong season ahead, fans hope to see a goggle version of AD have a similar impact to what Horace and Kareem had during their respective careers, whether through defensive tenacity or leadership skills.