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2012 No. 1 overall pick and former Wildcats superstar, Anthony Davis, created chaos in the NBA when he demanded a trade out of New Orleans. He ended up with the LeBron James-led Lakers, making them an instant title contender.
They were in place as the No. 1 team in the Western Conference when the novel coronavirus caused the league to shut down in the middle of March. With the NBA set to resume on July 30, Davis is liking his chances of securing his first NBA Championship.
"I think our chances are higher just because we're all rested." @AntDavis23 on the #Lakers' title hopes after a long break in the NBA season.
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) July 2, 2020
Hear more from A.D. on tonight's : at 7 PM. pic.twitter.com/j7WVd8Dz4e
A seven-time All-Star in just eight seasons, Davis is the league’s best center, and for many fans, it’s not particularly close. Ever since his days at Kentucky, it was clear that he was just a level above the field, and with months off, Davis is ready to take his game to the next level.
He’ll have eight games before entering the postseason. His Lakers may end up being in Orlando for several months as they’ll look win what reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo calls the “toughest championship you could ever win.”
Davis has been a superstar in the NBA for almost a decade, but he’s yet to really make strides in the playoffs.
The Pelicans tried to get him the help he needed to drive a team that far, but sadly, DeMarcus Cousins injury derailed those plans. Davis has made the postseason twice, scoring over 30 points per game in both his trips.
As for the Lakers, they’ll be entering these few months without shooting guard Avery Bradley, a player that was a small part of their success throughout the season.
However, Bradley not making the trip shouldn't be an issue as the Lakers will likely enter the bubble as the favorite to take home the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy.