Former Lakers guard asserts Anthony Davis edges out Kobe Bryant’s 2x championship teammate
Former LA Lakers guard Nick Young recently asserted that Anthony Davis is a better player than two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol.
On Friday's episode of the "Gil's Arena" podcast, Young ranked his top five Lakers big men of all time. Gilbert Arenas, Dwight Howard and Young unanimously picked Davis over Gasol despite having one more ring.
Gasol and Davis spent the most successful years of their careers in Los Angeles and formed iconic tandems with all-time greats Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Choosing between these Laker greats is no easy task, but let us examine the merits of Arenas and Young's claims.
Pau Gasol vs Anthony Davis - Comparing the careers of the two Lakers
Pau Gasol and Anthony Davis share similar legacies with the Lakers, as both played crucial supporting roles in ending extended championship droughts.
The Lakers acquired Gasol in 2008 via a controversial trade from the Memphis Grizzlies. During his six-year tenure in LA, Gasol averaged 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Gasol formed a strong partnership with Kobe Bryant, becoming his trusted friend and teammate. This period coincided with the most successful stretch of Gasol's career, as he won championships in 2009 and 2010, along with three consecutive All-Star appearances.
His No.16 jersey was retired by the Lakers in March 2023 as foretold by Bryant.
"There is no debate," Bryant said in 2018, per SI. "When Pau retires he will have his number at the top of the pavilion. The reality is that I wouldn't have won those two rings without Pau."
Anthony Davis joined the Lakers in 2019 and helped secure the 2020 NBA title, playing a vital role in the bubble championship run.
In his five seasons with the Lakers, Davis is averaging 24.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and has cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in the league.
Still only 31 years old, he has the opportunity to surpass Gasol with several years of basketball left. His contract with the Lakers won't expire until 2028, which also gives him a chance to win more championships.