LeBron James has reached a point where he no longer wishes to have Anthony Davis as his teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers. The 38-year-old NBA star is reportedly frustrated with Davis and doubts his ability to contribute to winning another championship. According to CBS Sports, James has lost confidence in Davis’ toughness, leading to speculation that the Lakers might consider trading Davis to persuade James not to retire.
Following a disappointing regular season, the Lakers managed to advance to the Western Conference final through the play-in tournament but were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in a four-game sweep. Despite Davis’ impressive performance with an average of 26.8 points, 14 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks against the Nuggets, James blamed him for the series loss and expressed concern about Davis’ injury history.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69997853/1235884938.0.jpg)
In the playoffs, James averaged 27.8 points, 10 assists, and 9.5 rebounds but struggled with a 26.4 percent shooting accuracy from 3-point range. Additionally, James played through a significant foot injury, adding to the frustration of the sweep and leading him to contemplate retirement, stating that he has a lot to think about regarding his future in basketball.
While no final decision has been announced by James, his uncertainty has left his status up in the air as the NBA Draft approaches. The trade that brought Davis to the Lakers before the 2019-20 season, orchestrated by James, initially received praise as the team won the NBA Finals in 2020. However, Davis’ need to manage his playing minutes due to fitness concerns has drawn criticism.
Despite the rumors of a rift, Davis insists on maintaining a positive relationship with James, dismissing speculations about any strain in their bond during the regular season. As the offseason unfolds, the Lakers’ future dynamics, especially regarding the James-Davis partnership, remain uncertain.
