With Anthony Davis set to anchor the Lakers frontcourt for the foreseeable future, the veteran star’s vision for his role in the lineup reportedly played a key factor in the team’s plans this offseason.
Davis, L.A.’s starting center the past two seasons, “made it clear” to the Lakers entering the offseason that he wanted more support at center so he wouldn’t have to play the position “so much” during the regular season, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Thursday’s report comes less than a day after L.A. added veteran center/power forward Christian Wood to the frontcourt alongside fellow free-agent acquisition center Jaxson Hayes, a sign that the club could look to follow through on Davis’s wishes.
A power forward for much of his 11-year career, Davis, who’s listed at 6-foot-10 and 253 pounds, has long been a two-way star when healthy, regardless of his position. But, after years of rumors concerning his lack of interest in playing center long-term, perhaps Year 12 will see Davis, fresh off a three-year, $186 million extension, stay at the position he’s thrived in most.
Davis’s reported desire to play less center follows a season in which L.A. primarily utilized him in that role. The eight-time All-Star played center in 99% of his minutes during his 56 games played (54 starts) in the 2022–23 campaign, according to Cleaning the Glass data, via ESPN.
