Anthony Davis at 30: the best of his 2020 playoffs

Among the interiors one of the most complete and talented in history, Anthony Davis (30 years old, this March 11) is nonetheless one of the most frustrating players of his time. Frustrating, because his physical fragility (his bad luck?) has too often weighed on him and caused him to miss a lot of games in the regular season: 220, or 25% of all those played by his teams (Pelicans Then Lakers) since fiscal year 2012/13…

Nevertheless, when he is on his two legs, “AD” disappoints only very rarely and he is extremely productive. Evidenced by his career averages of 24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 interceptions (52% in shooting and 80% in free throws)!

Impressive numbers, which make him one of six players in history (with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal) to shoot at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2 career blocks average…

In the playoffs, his statistics go up again: 27.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 against and 1.3 interceptions per game (54% in shooting and 84% in free throws), spread over (only) four campaigns.

Here too, “The Unibrow” is part of a closed circle: that of the seven players to compile a minimum of 25 points and 10 rebounds on average at this stage of the competition, along with Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dirk Nowitzki , Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.

It (finally) met expectations, at the highest level…

Speaking of the playoffs, let’s take a look back at Anthony Davis’ 2020 campaign. Unquestionably the period when he played the best basketball of his career.

Over almost two months of competition, and in the particular context of the “Orlando bubble (to which not everyone has acclimatized), the interior has been able to do what has always been expected of him since his arrival in the league, as number one in the 2012 Draft: dominate in attack AND in defense, on the biggest basketball scene in the world, by fining each of its vis-à-vis.

With 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 interceptions on average over 21 games (16 wins!), 57% in shooting (including 38% at 3-pointers) and 83% in throws, “AD” has quite simply familiarity with perfection and reached for the stars with Los Angeles. Despite the presence of LeBron James at his side who, for the second time in his career only (after 2011), did not finish as his team’s top scorer in the playoffs (but MVP of the Finals).

Helpless, the defenders of Portland, Houston, Denver then Miami suffered in the face of the regularity and cleanliness of Anthony Davis, unstoppable at (almost) every meeting. Guided by such a monster in their racquet and the desire to honor the memory of the late Kobe Bryant as it should be, the Lakers could logically only go to the end that year, in what constituted the 17th title of their history (Celtics record tied).

Only regret? That the Chicago native never really (or rather durably) regained this level thereafter, due to physical glitches that regularly plagued him when he started to chain. But the time has been optimistic lately, while “The Unibrow” is currently surfing on the best statistical season of his career in California (26.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.0 interceptions on average).