Anthony Davis doesn’t have many basketball flaws, but health has always been a concern. He’s one of the NBA’s best physical specimens. However, his large build and athleticism can sometimes lead to weird spills and contact. As AD opts for five more years with the Lakers as opposed to a shorter deal, injuries are a priority for him too.
After completing his deal, Davis spoke about health driving his decision, per CBS Sports HQ.
Anthony Davis explains why he choose a 5-year deal instead of a shorter contract:
"I have to think about the reality of things too. I do have a history with injuries … I wanted to secure the most amount of years possible." pic.twitter.com/cMmd7QDZoG
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 4, 2020
Anthony Davis has never played a full NBA season, but only missed nine games last year. This was a big reduction from 26 games his last year with the New Orleans Pelicans. In that season, there was a combination of injuries and rotation management due to trade rumors. There will be 72 games in the 2020-21 season, so it remains to be seen how he will fare.
Many people predicted roster-building and more money as the influence on his negotiations. It’s extremely refreshing to see another factor at play. This particular factor has locked him into personal security from which the team can build.
He’s worth every cent of the $190 million that makes up his contract. Along with AD, it’s the Lakers’ responsibility to keep him healthy. They showed that they were willing to do so via free agency. Adding Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schröder takes a lot of weight off of both he and LeBron James. The Lakers will especially need to take a load off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis as they look towards starting the 2020-21 season only two-and-a-half months after they secured their 17th championship. As said previously, Davis has had injury concerns stemming from shoulder issues while LeBron will be turning 37-years-young in December.
Either way, let’s just take a moment to celebrate at least four more years of AD in the purple-and-gold.
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