Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis repeatedly said he doesn’t like playing the center position. But it seems that Davis is also more interested in winning, which is why he reportedly accepted to play at the five in the 2021-22 season.
According to the recent report by the Athletic, Davis “has emerged as the expected starting center” for the Lakers moving forward. The 28-year-old big man became more open to the adjustment after the franchise pulled off a blockbuster trade that landed 2017’s NBA MVP Russell Westbrook.
This would be great news for the Lakers, as they played their best basketball with Davis at the center in previous seasons. Also, it would clear the way for a starting lineup of Davis, Westbrook, LeBron James, Wayne Ellington, and Trevor Ariza, which is viewed as their best considering the current personnel.
In this starting five, the Lakers would have a stretch big who is both equipped with a solid three-point shot and dominant enough to get points in the paint. They would also have just one below-average three-point shooter in Westbrook as opposed to lineups that would feature Davis at power forward and DeAndre Jordan or Dwight Howard at the center.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel was asked about his starting five in 2021-22 multiple times but reiterated that he will make this decision during training camp.
“The honest answer is that we don’t know yet,” Vogel said of his starting lineup. “We’re gonna watch these guys play together in camp, measure the pros and cons of certain lineups, and find a lineup that we think is going to help us get off to a strong start.”
