Anthony Davis is an important part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of making the NBA playoffs, but he is out for an extended period of time.
The Lakers will be without star forward Anthony Davis for at least several weeks due to a foot injury
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers in scoring and rebounding averages this season, and his absence will be felt keenly by LeBron James and company as they fight to stay in the NBA playoff picture.
ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst stated on The Hoop Collective podcast that he does not expect Davis to return to the court anytime soon.
“He’s not gonna be out a game or two,” he said. “He’s gonna be out an extended period.
“Hopefully, it’s an injury he can get some treatment on and get it healed. It’s not good. It’s not a sprained ankle. It’s not a sprained foot. From what I understand, it’s something more concerning than that.”
Windhorst’s account is consistent with Shams Charania of The Athletic’s report that Davis is expected to miss at least one month of action while recovering from his latest injury.
The Lakers haven’t said anything publicly about Davis’s injury or how long he might be out, but his absence will be a huge blow for a team that is fighting to stay in playoff contention, currently sitting 12th at 13-17 and two games back of the final playoff spot in the West.
Davis’ injury is especially concerning given the Lakers’ roster makeup. Not only is he an important player, but the team is in win-now mode, with superstars like LeBron James and Russell Westbrook leading a top-heavy roster that is severely lacking in depth.
If the Lakers make the playoffs, four-time MVP James will give them a fighting chance in any series, but it is far from certain that they will finish in the top 12 in the Western Conference after 82 games, and a quick comeback for Davis – who is averaging 27 points and 12 rebounds per game – will be critical.
With a roster that shows little attention paid to building for the future, if Davis is unable to play a significant role in the remainder of the season, it could be the start of a lengthy period out of contention for a franchise that won the NBA title just two years ago and has been associated with winning throughout its storied history.
