In a revealing appearance on “The Draymond Green Show” podcast, Washington Wizards big man Anthony Davis delivered a candid assessment of the Western Conference landscape that sent ripples through the NBA community — particularly in Los Angeles.
The former Lakers superstar openly admitted he viewed the Los Angeles Lakers as legitimate championship contenders before injuries derailed their star duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
“I had the Lakers [as title contenders] before this Luka and Austin thing happened,” Davis stated matter-of-factly during the conversation.
Davis, now patrolling the paint for the Washington Wizards, went on to name his top title contenders for the upcoming playoffs. He picked the Oklahoma City Thunder as the clear favorites to repeat as NBA champions. Alongside them, he highlighted the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs as teams possessing the personnel and talent to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
He also gave a respectful nod to the Golden State Warriors, suggesting they could pull off an upset or two thanks to the timeless greatness of Stephen Curry.
Anthony Davis Praises Doncic’s Game — And Admits He Once Dreamed of Teaming Up With Him
Beyond the injury context, Davis took time to lavish praise on Luka Doncic’s extraordinary offensive skill set. The Wizards center revealed that he and his teammates had frequently discussed the Slovenian superstar’s potential as the “next thing” after LeBron James.
“Luka is so cold, bro,” Davis said with obvious admiration. “We used to talk about Luka all the time. At the time, I wasn’t sure what Bron [LeBron James] was gonna do. I was just saying in general, the next thing as far as what he can do, who can be close to Bron, was Luka as far like the height, the passing ability, to score. All that as far as helping my game.”
Davis then dropped a personal bombshell: he once fantasized about playing alongside Doncic.
“I was like man, ‘If I ever got with Luka, oh my gosh.’”
His comments took on added irony given that Davis was ultimately traded to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers — a move that reportedly left the big man shocked at the time.
Lakers Facing Major Injury Woes Heading Into Playoffs
The timing of Davis’s remarks could not be more poignant for the Lakers organization. As the regular season winds down, Los Angeles is grappling with significant injury concerns that have clouded their playoff outlook.
Both Luka Doncic (grade 2 hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (oblique injury) are expected to miss the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers are currently projected to face the Houston Rockets in the opening round.
Head coach JJ Redick has been forced to adapt quickly. With only three regular-season games remaining — against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, the Phoenix Suns on Friday, and the Utah Jazz on Sunday — Redick plans to use this final stretch to experiment with rotations and identify the best available lineup for the postseason.
“You obviously have to tackle the situation in front of you, that we have — a unique situation in front of us,” Redick told ESPN. “And we’ve got to prepare our team, our group that we’re going to have available to play in the playoffs series. … How we approach next week leading into Game 1, it’s finding who’s going to be able to play in the playoffs for us. … The seeding part probably went out the window after the OKC game.”
Hope on the Horizon?
Doncic is currently in Madrid, Spain, seeking alternative treatment for his strained hamstring in hopes of returning to the Lakers lineup as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Reaves is projected to miss at least four weeks with his oblique injury, making his availability for the early playoff rounds highly unlikely.
Anthony Davis’s comments serve as both a compliment and a subtle reminder of what might have been — or could still be — for a Lakers team that appeared poised for a deep postseason run before injuries struck.
As the playoffs approach, the basketball world will be watching closely to see if the Lakers can overcome their current adversity, and whether Davis’s pre-injury belief in their championship potential proves prophetic once a healthy Luka Doncic returns to the floor