Anthony Davis has seen a lot of star names around him across his 12-year career in NBA, becoming one himself in this long journey. But one particular encounter still vividly lives on in AD’s memory.
Recently the Lakers forward opened up about a specific incident during his rookie days which involved none other than the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant.
Anthony Davis recounts his embarrassing moment in front of Kobe
Anthony Davis could be a star today but there was a time when he was surrounded by superstars in a team. In the 2012 London Olympic Games, the USA Basketball team won a gold medal, of which Anthony Davis was a part. The team also had legends like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, James Harden, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook.
In The Backyard Podcast, Davis spoke about his start-struck moment and how he made Kobe angry. Bryant was all business for both the franchise and country. While at the Olympics his laser-focused demeanor was well appreciated by his teammates.
Recounting the particular incident that irked Kobe Bryant, AD said, “I was so star-struck. It hit me. We were in the locker room, and I forgot to put my jersey on. So, I got my shirt on, I’m 220. I’ve got to wear sleeves.”
“And we’re on the bench, we’re playing Nigeria and we’re up like 70. Coach K said, ‘AD you’re in. So I unzipped my jacket, and all I saw was a white shirt. So I went back to the bench and said, ‘Coach, I forgot to wear my jersey.’ So they got someone to get the jersey for me. But Kobe was hot. He said, ‘What are you doing?’ I felt really embarrassed.”
At the end of the tournament, Davis averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds with the few minutes he was allowed to play in seven games. Although Kobe Bryant was initially irked by Davis’ lack of presence of mind, they ended up becoming good friends later on down the road.
AD’s career in Lakers colors
The Lakers power forward has become an integral part of the team, so much that his absence impacts their performance significantly. AD’s importance to the Lakers is undeniable which is even acknowledged by LeBron James. Davis was traded to the Lakers from the Pelicans in 2019, and since then, he has been a force on both offense and defense.
In his initial years with the Lakers, from 2019 to 2020, Davis averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, culminating in an NBA Championship in 2020. Despite injury setbacks in the following seasons (2020-2021 and 2021-2022), Davis maintained solid averages of 21.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, and 23.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, respectively.
In the 2022-2023 season, Davis elevated his performance further, averaging 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. This season, he continues to excel with averages of 24.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 48 games played so far.
For his contributions, Davis has earned 4 All-Star selections with the Lakers (5 with the Pelicans) along with distinctions such as the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2020.
With Lakers still in the hunt for a playoff berth, Anthony Davis will surely have to play a pivotal part for the rest of the regular season.
