Anthony Davis reveals injury pain as pressure ramps up on LeBron James and LA Lakers
Anthony Davis injury against Minnesota
Anthony Davis has revealed he “heard something” pop in his knee after going down injured during the LA Lakers’ defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is expected to be out for at least a month, ramping up the pressure on LeBron James and the rest of the Purple and Gold.
Anthony Davis' injury
The Lakers drifted as far out as 10/1 with NJ sports betting sites to win the NBA championship this season as problems mount for the franchise. Davis collapsed in the tunnel on the way to the locker room after Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels crashed into his left knee during his side’s 110-92 loss.
"I just reached a point where it was tough to walk," Davis said. "I had to take a break. I did hear something pop and the first thing I thought of was [a major injury]. Which, I was emotional, I was just like everywhere. But like I said, thank God that it wasn't that."
Davis did suffer a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will spend the next four weeks rehabbing it before being re-evaluated. But despite the setback, the 28-year-old insists he is in a better place than last season when he missed 36 of the Lakers’ 72 regular-season games due to injury and believes the team is still on course to win the championship this campaign.
"Mentally I'm fine. I'm in a good space. Last year was a more 'me' thing. This year was like a freakish play. So knowing that nothing I really could have done to avoid it, I guess, keeps me in a good place."
Anthony Davis
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“The locker room keeps me in a good place," he added. "People around me outside of basketball keep me in a good place. Great conversation with my wife about it; she's the one who keeps me in a good place, for real."
Short/long term impact on the Lakers
When healthy, AD feels the Lakers are "a pretty good team," but the lack of availability, whether due to COVID or injuries, keeps them from taking that next step. "It's not where we want to be," hesaid. "But we're not in a terrible spot."
The only question is, how will AD's injury impact the team moving forward? "We're still in a good spot," the Lakers superstar said."So hopefully we can stay afloat with all the stuff going on around the team and being able to still pursue our goal, which is to win a championship."
James was more frustrated after the defeat on Saturday night, posting on Instagram: “Fake has become so acceptable that people get offended when you keep it real.” It’s not clear exactly what or who ‘King James’ was referring to, but things didn’t get any better as the Lakers suffered a second successive loss at home to the Chicago Bulls.
LA played the Bulls without six players - Dwight Howard, Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves, Avery Bradley, Kent Bazemore, and Malik Monk - who are in the league's health and safety protocols, as well as head coach Frank Vogel. Assistant David Fizdale was in charge for the 115-110 defeat, which did see a season debut for Trevor Ariza after he underwent ankle surgery in pre-season.
The small forward scored three points in 15 minutes, while new boy Isiah Thomas hit another 13 points after landing 19 points in 22 minutes against Minnesota.
