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INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time in four years, Lakers star big man Anthony Davis was back on the stage where a player of his caliber belongs: at All-Star Weekend for Sunday’s exhibition between the top players in the Western and Eastern Conferences.
When Davis was named a Western Conference All-Star reserve on Feb. 1, it marked the ninth time he was given the honor in his career but the first time since the 2020-21 season after being an All-Star for eight consecutive seasons (2013-21).
Sunday will mark the first time since 2020 that Davis played in the All-Star Game after missing the ‘21 All-Star Game because of a right strained calf.
The All-Star Game is returning to an East vs. West format for the first time since 2017, scrapping the format that saw the captains pick their respective teams with no regard to conference affiliation.
“It’s an honor,” Davis said during his Saturday media availability at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, “It’s a privilege to be here. Not too many guys can say they’ve been an All-Star, especially for the nine times that I have. You never take it for granted. Even with the injuries last year, I feel like I could have made it still. Year before, probably not.
“Getting back to being recognized as one of the top players in the league, it’s just a credit to my team, my trainers and stuff like that to make sure that I’m healthy for the entire year and then just get back to the level that I’ve been playing at.”
Injuries and missed games – Davis in 60% or fewer games the previous two seasons – were significant reasons why Davis wasn’t named an All-Star in 2022 and ‘23.
But durability hasn’t been an issue for Davis this year. He entered All-Star Weekend having played in 52 of the Lakers’ 56 regular-season games and with averages of 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 blocks.
Having played in 92.8% of the Lakers’ games so far – which extrapolates to about 76 games in an 82-game season – Davis is not only on pace to play the most games he has for the Lakers in a single regular season, but he’s also on pace to set a new career-high for games played. Davis played 75 regular-season games in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans.
“Just locking in, knowing that when I’m on the floor, my team is better,” Davis said of his preparation for the season. “When I’m off the floor, I can’t do anything to help them.”
Davis, the 2017 NBA All-Star Game MVP, averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his six previous All-Star Game appearances – missing two appearances (2015 and ‘21) because of injuries. The 52 points he scored in the 2017 All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans was a record before Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum scored 55 points in last year’s All-Star Game.
At 30 years old and his focus on staying healthy for the final stretch of the regular season leading into the playoffs, don’t expect for Davis to play significant minutes on Sunday.
“I’ll play – I got to talk to the coaching staff,” Davis said. “Luckily, I had [Minnesota Timberwolves and Western Conference All-Star coach Chris] Finch in New Orleans, so me and him have a good relationship. But I’ll talk to the coaches and kind of figure out the minutes. No one wants to come out of here banged up going back into the season.”
So his advice for younger players on the roster: “Get ready to play a lot of minutes because the old guys probably aren’t going to play as much.”
Davis answered an array of questions typical of during All-Star Weekend.
The one player in NBA history that he wishes he could’ve been teammates with? Late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant.
“Well, I was for the Olympics,” Davis responded. “But in a season, Kobe for sure.”
Speaking of the Olympics, does he intend to play for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics?
“I told the USA committee, whoever called me,” Davis said. “That if they ask me to go, I’ll go.”
Who does he think will win the All-Star Game MVP, if he doesn’t win it? Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards.
“The All-Star Game is made for Anthony Edwards,” Davis said. “The way he plays. Obviously his personality. He was just saying that he’s probably going to shoot all left-handed throughout the game. He wanted to make it fun and spice it back up.”
Davis mentioned Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a player he doesn’t believe gets enough credit.
“I mean, he gets talked about, but maybe not to the extent that he should,” Davis said. “They’re playing great basketball. OKC is playing great basketball. He’s obviously leading the charge. What he’s doing for that organization, for that team, that amount of success that they’re having over the past couple of years, I think should be recognized a little bit more.”
Davis’ Lakers teammate LeBron James will be the captain of the Western Conference All-Star squad for Sunday’s game.
James wasn’t at Saturday’s All-Star Practice and Media Day and is scheduled to be made available on Sunday a few hours before the game.
Clippers forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will also be playing for the West squad as reserves.
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