LA Lakers News: Anthony Davis keen to spoil Warriors' ring ceremony night
Anthony Davis wants to play spoilsport when the LA Lakers open their season on Tuesday on the road against the Golden State Warriors. Davis and company are raring to ruin the mood at the Chase Center for the Warriors’ ring ceremony.
Team owner Jeanie Buss knows how crucial Davis is for the Lakers. She told Davis to listen to his workout coach and doctors to get his body right.
Pat Beverley continues to stand by his embattled LA Lakers teammate Russell Westbrook amid fresh criticism after the huddle video went viral. Beverley told the former MVP to be mentally strong as the critics will continue to be relentless.
Anthony Davis and the LA Lakers are raring to spoil the Golden State Warriors’ ring ceremony
The LA Lakers were unceremoniously eliminated from playoff contention last season. Like the rest of the league, they watched the Golden State Warriors win their fourth championship in eight years. Anthony Davis and the Lakers will now be relishing the opportunity to ruin the defending champs’ ring ceremony.
Davis had this to say about their upcoming season opener on the road against the Bay Area team (via Jovan Buha):
“Our first two games are against two title contenders. It’s always good to spoil a ring night. So the mindset is going up there and starting the season with a couple of Ws.”
Anthony Davis on the Lakers’ opening stretch of the season: “Our first two games are against two title contenders. It’s always good to spoil a ring night. So the mindset is going up there and starting the season with a couple of Ws.”
The LA Lakers’ first two games will be against the two teams most experts predict will battle for the Western Conference championship. After Golden State, the Lakers will play the LA Clippers on Thursday night.
Anthony Davis’ statement could also mean that he will be playing the Lakers’ first game of the season. The team has listed him, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook as probable on the injury report.
Jeanie Buss urges Anthony Davis to do everything he can to stay healthy
It’s no secret that the LA Lakers’ title chances next season will rest on the shoulders of Anthony Davis. If he’s unhealthy, like he has been the past two seasons, the team might as well kiss their championship aspirations goodbye.
On the "Rich Eisen Show," team owner Jeanie Buss implored Davis to do everything he could to stay healthy:
“Anthony [Davis], he led us to a championship, he’s amazingly talented. We just need to make sure he stays healthy, just make sure he listens to his workout coach, doctors, everything.
Davis suffered at least three fluke injuries last season. He will hope for better luck in the upcoming season.
Buss also implied that staying healthy involves keeping in shape, which Davis didn’t consistently do last season. He came into training camp looking out of shape and was called out by some former players, including Kevin Garnett, on the issue.
If the preseason is any indication, the LA Lakers could already be having some serious anxieties. Davis was sidelined out of precaution due to back tightness. The team can only hope that it’s nothing serious and that it will not affect his performance for the entire season.
Pat Beverley tells Russell Westbrook to keep his sanity
Russell Westbrook unfairly hogged the spotlight yet again when a video clip showed the former MVP refusing to join a team huddle. Pat Beverley, who was the one organizing the huddle, defended Westbrook from criticism and scrutiny.
The former Minnesota Timberwolves point guard had this to say about the whole incident:
“But we told him on the plane, like, 'Hey Russ, anything you do, bro, they are like going to attack you. I'm sorry you have to go through that, bro.' As a human, you gotta keep your sanity and sh*t cause you kinda lose yourself, but mentally, he's been solid. Mentally, he's been strong."
Watch Beverley speak about Westbrook at the 7:45 mark:
This isn’t the first time since he signed for the LA Lakers that Beverley has come to the defense of his former bitter rival. Beverley has had nothing but praise and admiration for Westbrook since arriving in Hollywood.
Last season, the endless criticism eventually took its toll on Russell Westbrook as he often clashed with members of the media. It was one of the many unexpected lowlights since he was acquired by his hometown team from the Washington Wizards in 2021.
It’s going to be a new season, but it looks like Westbrook will have to go through more of the same with the Lakers.