"Playing like the best player in basketball" - Skip Bayless praises Anthony Davis as Lakers win season-opener
Even though the Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2024-25 season with both of their marquee stars fresh off winning an Olympic gold medal, they were still not deemed the favorites to win their opening encounter against the Minnesota Timberwolves as they hadn't won their inaugural contest since 2016. However, Anthony Davis had other plans this time around, and he was determined to showcase how he plans to compete in the MVP race this season.
As AD's impressive double-double single-handedly propelled the Purple and Gold to victory, Skip Bayless couldn't help but label him as the "best player in basketball."
Bayless left impressed with Davis
After registering merely nine points in the first half, though the Lakers held a 13-point advantage going into halftime, Anthony hadn't asserted his dominance over the game. That changed in the second half when the 6'10" big man decided to dominate on both ends of the court.
The nine-time All-Star showcased his two-way prowess by controlling the board, scoring efficiently, and even asserting himself defensively and showcasing how healthy he is right now. AD went from guarding Anthony Edwards to drawing fouls against Rudy Gobert on the same play.
Ultimately, "The Brow" finished the game with 36 points and 16 rebounds. Looking at his git-and-grind mentality, Skip couldn't help but applaud his presence on the court.
AD was the difference maker for L.A.
While Rui Hachimura and LeBron James ended their night with 18 and 16 points, respectively, Davis' leadership was the driving force behind the win. The most impressive aspect of Anthony's performance was how the Illinois native anchored the squad in the closing minutes, scoring or assisting on 13 of their final 15 points after re-entering the game with just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The primary expectation from the UK product was to firmly establish himself as the Lakers' No. 1 option this season. After spending the summer with the modern-day greats on the Olympic squad, AD seems more determined than ever to achieve greatness.
It would be interesting to see if Davis can continue to deliver such MVP-esque performances in the 2024-25 campaign. The renaissance could be seen as the Lakers travel to face the Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors on the road next.
