Watch: Anthony Davis gets tangled with Wesley Matthews against Milwaukee Bucks, as Reggie Miller chimes in: "Anytime AD grimaces, it's 3 weeks"
Reggie Miller brutally mocked Anthony Davis' injury issues as the LA Lakers center grimaced in pain following a collision with Wesley Matthews against the Milwaukee Bucks. AD was holding his thigh while on the floor when the play occurred, with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Miller, who was on TNT's broadcasting duties, showed no remorse to Davis, saying:
"Anytime Anthony Davis grimaces, it's 3 weeks."
Miller's co-broadcasters went silent after the Hall of Famer's uncalled-for jab, while fans online expressed their dissatisfaction over him mocking AD. The Lakers No. 3 has had health concerns and is often criticized for missing games due to injuries. Over the last two seasons, Davis has missed time after suffering impact injuries, something he couldn't have prevented from his end.
Reggie Miller mocks LA Lakers big Anthony Davis' injury problems on-air
Anthony Davis has tried his best to make himself available. Whenever good to go, the former Pelicans star rarely takes long to settle back in. However, former players like Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, and a few other critics mercilessly go after AD for struggling to stay healthy for long stretches.
Barkley famously named Davis "Street Clothes" during the 2020-21 NBA season. AD isn't the only injury-prone superstar in the league, but the narrative around him seems biased. Earlier this season, when Davis was playing at an MVP-caliber level, critics and fans often brought up his injury issues, overshadowing his efforts on the court.
Reggie Miller has expressed concerns for Anthony Davis before
Before the 2021-22 NBA season began, Reggie Miller expressed concerns for Davis over his injury struggles. AD was coming off a season where he missed half of the Lakers' games and went down with an injury in the playoffs, leading to their exit in the first round against the Phoenix Suns.
Here's what Miller said:
βAnytime Anthony Davis hits the floor; I think heβs done for a month. It just scares me.β
Davis has played the majority of his minutes at the center position over the last two seasons. That exposed him to a lot of contact, leading to some injuries. LA hasn't had the big-man presence next to Davis that could take care of the interior defense.
However, that will change moving forward. LA has acquired bigs like Mo Bamba and Jarred Vanderbilt at the 2023 trade deadline. These players could allow AD to slot back into his preferred power forward position. The Lakers will also have a decent size at the two and three, with Lonnie Walker IV, Malik Beasley, Troy Brown Jr., and LeBron James playing those positions.