In a season where anything less than perfection is somehow an unforgivable sin, LA Lakers’ powerhouse Anthony Davis has been grinding out dominant performances night after night, yet critics keep moving the goalposts. And rookie coach JJ Redick, who’s got Davis running his system to a T, has had enough. Despite Davis lighting up both ends of the floor as if he’s on a mission to prove his doubters wrong once and for all, the chorus of “he can do more” has yet to fade.
A nine-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA pick, and defensive juggernaut, Davis has long been a go-to punching bag for critics who seemingly want him to morph into something between a basketball deity and a Marvel superhero. But this season, he’s not just playing well—he’s leading the league with career-high numbers: 32.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, plus a laundry list of steals and blocks. Through seven games, he’s shooting a scalding 57.1% from the floor, as if trying to torch every doubter’s take in his wake.
Ahead of their matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Redick was asked the age-old question: What more can Anthony Davis do? It’s a question fans and analysts ask every year, regardless of what AD delivers. Redick didn’t mince words in his response. “People always want more from Anthony Davis,” he said, his sarcasm practically dripping off every syllable. “The guy can have 30 points and 12 rebounds, and people want more from him… it’s just always been a thing with him when he’s been with the Lakers. That’s a fact.”
Will Winning Make the Noise Stop?
It’s hard to say if a championship would satisfy Davis’ relentless critics, but Redick seems intent on giving his star every chance to shine. According to the new coach, the Lakers’ offense has been designed to flow through AD. “The ball is going to find our best players,” Redick explained. “But the ball is going to find AD if we play the way we want to play, and then we always look for ways to feature him with a set call.”
While LA celebrated a 131-125 road victory over Toronto last Friday—Davis dropping another stellar performance with points galore and enough highlight plays to fuel a dozen Twitter hot-takes—Monday’s surprise loss to Detroit deflated the mood a bit. Despite the Lakers falling 115-103, Davis still topped the scoresheet with 37 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, hitting 56.5% of his shots. That’s the kind of consistency that leaves his fans wondering what else he can possibly do while his critics are off grumbling about…well, who knows at this point.
But maybe, just maybe, if Davis somehow leads LA to a ring as the No. 1 option, there might be some peace in the land of Lakers fandom. Until then, expect the skeptics to be back at it.