Anthony Davis and the position of pivot is a long story of disenchantment. The Lakers’ All-Star interior has always been adamant that this is not his preferred position. Already in 2019, he declared it loud and clear: “My favorite position remains position 4.”
Since his arrival in Los Angeles, the years have passed and the 2020 champion has been lost. Once a pivot, to be of service, and once a power forward. Except last season where he spent all of his time as the pivot… A position where he often takes a lot of weight off his opponents.
A position which exhausts him and prevents him from exploiting his full potential since he remains one of the most complete strong wingers, capable of punishing from afar, but also of gaining speed from his defender on the dribble.
A situation similar to 2020, the year of the last title
Unhappy with this situation, the former Pelicans made it clear to his leaders, ESPN teaches us : he no longer wishes to progress as much in this position. No doubt he even made it one of the essential conditions for his contract extension. Rob Pelinka, the GM, therefore met his expectations with the arrivals of Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood during the offseason.
The summer was thus a success for Anthony Davis: he extended his contract and saw reinforcements arrive to do the dirty work inside, in order to regain the balance that was his the year of the title, where Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee mainly took care of the 5 position and allowed him to save himself physically.
| Anthony Davis | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Min | Shots | 3 points | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | NOP | 64 | 29 | 51.6 | 0.0 | 75.1 | 2.6 | 5.6 | 8.2 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 13.5 |
| 2013-14 | NOP | 67 | 35 | 51.9 | 22.2 | 79.1 | 3.1 | 7.0 | 10.0 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 20.8 |
| 2014-15 | NOP | 68 | 36 | 53.5 | 8.3 | 80.5 | 2.5 | 7.7 | 10.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 24.4 |
| 2015-16 | NOP | 61 | 36 | 49.3 | 32.4 | 75.8 | 2.1 | 8.2 | 10.3 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 24.3 |
| 2016-17 | NOP | 75 | 36 | 50.5 | 29.9 | 80.2 | 2.3 | 9.5 | 11.8 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 28.0 |
| 2017-18 | NOP | 75 | 36 | 53.4 | 34.0 | 82.8 | 2.5 | 8.6 | 11.1 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 28.1 |
| 2018-19 | NOP | 56 | 33 | 51.7 | 33.1 | 79.4 | 3.1 | 8.9 | 12.0 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 25.9 |
| 2019-20 | LAL | 62 | 34 | 50.3 | 33.0 | 84.6 | 2.3 | 7.0 | 9.3 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 26.1 |
| 2020-21 | LAL | 36 | 32 | 49.1 | 26.0 | 73.8 | 1.7 | 6.2 | 7.9 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 21.8 |
| 2021-22 | LAL | 40 | 35 | 53.2 | 18.6 | 71.3 | 2.7 | 7.2 | 9.9 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | LAL | 56 | 34 | 56.3 | 25.7 | 78.4 | 3.5 | 9.1 | 12.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 25.9 |
| Total | 660 | 34 | 51.9 | 30.0 | 79.3 | 2.6 | 7.8 | 10.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 24.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
