LeBron James is the most valuable player of the Los Angeles Lakers, if not their best player. As such, he is their dominant personality. Therefore, how he feels about certain teammates matters a lot.
Recently, Zach Gelb of CBS Sports Radio said James is frustrated with Anthony Davis, not only because the big man is injury-prone, but also because he feels Davis lacks toughness.
However, Mark Medina, a journalist who covers the Lakers for Sportsnaut, pushed back on that report and quoted someone as saying the 38-year-old is apparently OK with Davis (h/t Lakers Nation).
Via Sportsnaut:
“LeBron James’ optimism about his NBA title chances will largely center on how well the Lakers continue to build a roster around him and Anthony Davis. Toward the end of the 2022-23 season, CBS Sports reported that James had soured on Davis for his play and his checkered injury history. A person familiar with James’ thinking, however, stressed that James only has felt upset with Davis’ various circumstances as opposed to him personally.
“‘LeBron is not frustrated with AD. LeBron is thankful for AD,’ the person told Sportsnaut. ‘Does he wish that both could play and stay healthy the whole time? Of course. But it’s not like he wants a guy to go out there and get injured.’
“The person added that LeBron James has felt increasingly encouraged with Davis for improving his play and durability as the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference finals as a No. 7 seed. That gives James some relative hope that both he and Davis can stay consistent with their health and performances throughout the 2023-24 season.”
Even better, that source said Davis made a good impression on James during L.A.’s unexpected run to the Western Conference finals.
“Davis’ offensive performances fluctuated throughout the postseason, but the Lakers became encouraged with his defensive consistency regardless of his offensive production.
“Because of that growth, a person familiar with James’ thinking said he believes Davis has what it takes to thrive in future playoff games.”
Davis has two more seasons remaining on his Lakers contract, the second of which is a player option. It remains to be seen what the team does as far as his impending free agency a year or two from now.
