LeBron James Hails Anthony Davis as the New Face of the Lakers

During NBA Media Day on Monday, LeBron James made a noteworthy declaration, stating that 30-year-old Anthony Davis is now the face of the Los Angeles Lakers. This proclamation follows Davis committing to the Lakers with a lucrative three-year, $177 million contract signed in August 2022, binding him to the franchise until 2025.

According to James, “He is the face [of the franchise]. You look at all these [retired] numbers that surround this facility, all the greats that have come here. AD is one of them.”

Data supports this assertion that Davis is poised to assume a prominent role for the Lakers. In the 2022/23 season, Davis led the team in win shares with an impressive score of 9.0, surpassing other Lakers players by 3.4. Additionally, he boasted a competitive Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) score of 4.0, matching James.

LeBron James, who is entering his 21st NBA season, continues to showcase his exceptional skills and conditioning. With his dedication to maintaining peak physical form, he remains a formidable presence on the court. In the 2022 season, he averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, even securing two triple-doubles.

James is under contract with the Lakers until 2025, signed on a $99 million deal, and aims to guide the franchise back to NBA Finals glory, with their last championship victory occurring in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.