NBA NEWS

Lakers’ Davis: ‘I’ll put our roster up against anybody’

Field Level Media

July 13, 2019 at 8:56 pm.

Anthony Davis met the media in Los Angeles on Saturday for the first time since he was traded to the Lakers and expressed his enthusiasm about joining LeBron James and DeMarcus Cousins to create one of the NBA’s top trios.

“I’ll put our roster up against anybody,” Davis, a six-time All-Star, told the media. “In a seven-game series, I think we’ll come out victorious.”

General manager Rob Pelinka called the acquisition of Davis a “history-shifting” moment for the franchise.

“There is no more complete basketball player in the game,” he said. “There is nothing he can’t do. He can shoot. He can make plays. He can defend 1-5. He can protect the rim. He can handle the ball. His dedication to his craft is unparalleled.”

The Lakers agreed to acquire Davis on June 15, sending Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and three first-round draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans. The trade was finalized last weekend under NBA rules.

Davis discussed his role with the Lakers and said he’d play center if the team needed him to, but that wasn’t his first choice.

“I like playing the four. I’m not even going to sugarcoat it,” Davis told reporters before looking to Frank Vogel, the Lakers’ first-year coach. “If it come down to it, coach, and you need me to play the five, I’ll play the five.”

When asked whether he intended to take games off during the season to rest, he made it clear that also wasn’t his first choice.

“I’m playing. I’m 26 years old,” he said. “I love the game of basketball. I’m ready to play.”

Davis averaged 25.9 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in 56 games with the Pelicans in 2018-19.

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