Rich Paul goes after media for creating injury-prone narrative around Anthony Davis - “The media… is going to kick you when you down”
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul recently came to Anthony Davis' support in an interview. The LA Lakers superstar has had a reputation as an injury-prone player, but Paul has suggested that a lot of this narrative could be attributed to the "scripted" media.
Anthony Davis has been one of the bright sparks for the Lakers this season. After starting the season slowly, Davis has looked like one of the best players in the NBA. He has put up some ridiculous numbers on equally dominant displays on the court and is averaging 27.7 points and 12.4 rebounds per game this season.
He has also entirely missed only three of LA's 26 games so far.
Davis taking over as the primary option for the Lakers on offense while supporting their defensive rotation has been key to the team's comeback from a 2-10 start. However, the superstar hasn't been free from criticism, which has followed him ever since their championship victory in 2020.
Rich Paul blasted the media for their approach to the situation. Speaking about Davis' run-ins with freak accidents with GQ's Sam Schube, Paul said:
"Well, I think the first thing is, you’ve got to understand media and I think the media has the job. Some of it’s scripted, some of it’s based on analytics, some of it’s based on viewership. When you talk about these topics, you see a rise in the viewership.
"And so the media, as it pertains to any player, but [especially] AD, is going to kick you when you down. Over the last couple years, he’s had some really freak situations."
Paul mentioned the incidents that forced Davis out of the game for extended periods of time. He was in particular disbelief when mentioning some public narratives which insinuated that the big man didn't want to play the game. The Klutch Sports CEO added:
"But for me, it’s always been the same as with any guy, especially at that level. There’s no doubt in the talent, and in the ability to play the game at the high level—I think he’s shown that."
Anthony Davis made an immediate impact upon arriving in LA. Helping the team win a title was a major aspect of this move and he did so alongside LeBron James in the bubble.
However, this success was shortlived as the Lakers fell upon hard times with injuries. Davis also missed a significant amount of time due to repeated long-term injuries.
His inability to be available eventually became a liability as the Lakers careened out of championship contention over the last two seasons.
Rich Paul blasts ‘scripted’ media for calling Lakers superstar Anthony Davis injury-prone: lakersdaily.com/rich-paul-blas…
Needless to say, AD took the comments personally. Taking it upon himself to get stronger this season, Davis promised to play all 82 games for the Lakers. While this may have been far too optimistic, the Purple and Gold have certainly benefitted from the mindset that their superstar has.
Read: "Give me 62 games, Anthony Davis, I’ll be happy, 72 I’ll be thrilled, 82 ain’t happening” – NBA analyst suspects Lakers are nothing but a ‘soap opera’, says their roster is a disappointment
Anthony Davis has been proving critics wrong
LA Lakers superstar Anthony Davis has been on a warpath this season. After a relatively slow start to the 2022-23 campaign, AD has looked nothing short of a top 5 player in the NBA.
Davis' impact has been felt on both ends of the floor. His aggressive approach on offense, paired with his skillset, has opened up several opportunities for the Lakers offense to flourish. Meanwhile, he continues to be one of the best defensive players in the league as he functions as a top-quality rim protector.
With averages of 27.7 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, AD has earned himself a mention in the MVP discussion. Should the Lakers continue their gradual rise up the Western Conference ladder, he could realistically see himself as a contender for the award as well.
Read: Shannon Sharpe declares Anthony Davis an MVP candidate: "The best player on the court even with 2 guys with 6 MVPs and 5 Finals MVP"