On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat, 112-109, sans Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Lonnie Walker IV in what was one of their most impressive wins so far this season.
During the ESPN telecast of the contest, the topic turned to Davis’ career and accomplishments. Former NBA player and head coach Mark Jackson said Davis has had a Hall of Fame career thus far, but Jeff Van Gundy argued that Davis probably would not get into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame if his career ended now.
Many fans have criticized Davis for being injury-prone to the point of wanting the Lakers to jettison him any way they can, and it seems those fans would agree with Van Gundy.
If you missed it last night, Jeff Van Gundy isn't sold on Anthony Davis being a Hall of Famer… pic.twitter.com/Fj7jAZH8fT
— Peter Dewey (@peterdewey2) January 5, 2023
Via Lakers Daily:
“‘Are you sure right now if he ended today, he’d be a Hall of Famer?’ Van Gundy asked.
“Jackson argued that to this point in Davis’ career, the Lakers big man has done enough to be considered a future member of the Hall of Fame. He then asked Van Gundy if he agreed that Davis was on pace for the Hall of Fame.
“‘I’m not sure because of the injuries,’ Van Gundy said. ‘He’s just … been unavailable so often. I think it’s hard to say that.'”
An objective and unemotional observer would probably argue that Davis does already deserve to be enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts. He owns career averages of 24 points on 51.8% shooting, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game, and this season he has put up 27.4 points on 59.4% shooting, 12.1 boards and 2.1 blocks a game.
He is reportedly making good progress in the rehab from his stress injury, and a return sometime this month is not out of the question.
