This Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers fell 118-104 to the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center, with the game also marking the unfortunate news of Anthony Davis‘ injury. The 31-year-old star was forced to leave the court early and will be out of NBA action for several days. His teammate, LeBron James, shared his thoughts on the situation.
“When our best player goes out, it’s always challenging, especially during the game,” LeBron said in a post-game interview in the locker room, shared by journalist Dave McMenamin on his X account. The 40-year-old superstar acknowledged AD’ crucial role for the Lakers and how his absence impacted the team’s plans.
Davis had started the game in Philadelphia but played only 10 minutes before a physical issue forced him to sit out. In that brief time, he contributed just 4 points and 2 rebounds.
LeBron admitted that it took him several minutes to realize the severity of the situation. “I didn’t even realize until the second quarter when he didn’t come back in his regular minutes,” he explained. “I looked over the bench and he wasn’t over there, so I found out at halftime.”
Reflecting on how Davis’ absence affected the Lakers, James added, “If he’s out from the beginning, then we have a game plan set, we know what to expect.” He added: “But if any of our guys goes out in the course of the game, it’s just…,” explaining that things are much more difficult when problems come unexpectedly.
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
What happened to Anthony Davis?
When asked about Davis’ injury, LeBron seemed optimistic, offering reassurance that the situation wasn’t too serious. “Level of concern? I think he’ll be fine,” LeBron said, expressing confidence that his teammate would return in the short term.
However, the organization provided an update on Wednesday, confirming the injury. “Lakers forward Anthony Davis underwent an MRI today that confirmed an abdominal muscle strain. The injury occurred in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game at Philadelphia,” the team said in a statement shared on social media.
As for the next steps, the Lakers added, “Davis will return to Los Angeles today and be re-evaluated in approximately one week.” This means the center will miss at least the team’s next two games.
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The Lakers’ upcoming challenges
Davis’ injury comes at a tough time for the Lakers, as they were riding a five-game winning streak on the road. After the loss in Philadelphia, the team will face the Washington Wizards on Thursday and the New York Knicks on Saturday. They’ll then return to Los Angeles to play the Clippers at the Intuit Dome next Tuesday, where they’ll see if Davis is ready to make his return.
