Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is the most talented player in the NBA who cannot stay on the court, and that single caveat has defined a career that should be discussed in all-time-great terms but is instead discussed in conditional tenses. Born on March 11, 1993, in Chicago, the first overall pick in 2012 won a championship alongside LeBron James in 2020 and possesses a combination of scoring, rebounding, and rim protection that makes him one of the most impactful players in basketball — when healthy. Those two words have haunted Davis like a recurring nightmare.

In 2024-25, Davis averaged 24.7 points per game across just 51 games, because of course he did. When available, he is a unique two-way monster — scoring in the post with power, hitting mid-range jumpers with finesse, and protecting the rim with a ferocity that makes opponents reconsider their life choices. The 51-game limitation is the story, though, and it has been the story for too many seasons. Davis’s per-game production is elite. His per-season availability is not. The gap between those two realities is the defining frustration of his career.

For Australian fans, Davis’s partnership with LeBron on the Lakers guarantees regular appearances on ESPN via Kayo Sports. His blocks are spectacular, his alley-oop finishes are gravity-defying, and his defensive presence changes the geometry of every possession. The Lakers’ 50-32 record in 2024-25 was built significantly on Davis’s two-way dominance, which makes his inability to stay healthy not merely a personal frustration but a franchise-level problem.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Anthony Davis plays forward/centre for the Los Angeles Lakers and is the most talented player in basketball whose career will forever be defined by the caveat “when healthy.” The 2020 champion averaged 24.7 points per game in 2024-25 across 51 games, and the per-game dominance is undeniable — elite rim protection, versatile scoring, and a defensive presence that alters the geometry of every possession. The availability is the issue. It has always been the issue. Davis’s talent deserves a body that cooperates. So far, it has not received one.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com