Lakers C Anthony Davis - Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
With the 2024 Presidential election coming up very soon, there are other things we can vote for, too.
This is undoubtedly the case in the NBA world.
While it’s still early in the voting process, it’s never too early to have already an open dialogue on who to vote for conference MVPs.
If you ask people in Los Angeles, especially Lakers fans, they would indeed vote for a superstar big to win MVP.
No, it’s not the one with the son playing next to him. It’s the other one who’s 6’10”, 253 lbs., and plays much more extensively for a center his size.
It’s not Lebron James; it’s the one and only Anthony Davis.
Why Anthony Davis Should Win MVP
Davis is the best candidate to vote for in the Western Conference MVP race because he is so underrated.
The lengthy forward has averaged 34 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes played this season.
He’s also guided the Lakers to three wins against playoff believers in the Timberwolves, Suns, and Kings.
Additionally, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week from Oct. 22-27, while Celtics big Jayson Tatum was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
However, he doesn’t seem to get the publicity he gets for playing alongside James (sounds familiar, Cavs fans). Yet, he goes about his business and is a good teammate.
More importantly, he lets his play do the talking and is like another coach on the floor.
How Davis Has Helped The Lakers
While the Lakers are leading their conference with a (3-0) record, it is mainly due to Davis’ help.
He is in a three-way tie with Luka Doncic (Mavericks) and Trae Young (Hawks) for the league lead in scoring with 34 points per game.
The talented big also shoots the rock well, hitting 40% from downtown and 57.1% from the floor.
Where he is most proficient is in the paint, as Davis is completing 82.6% of his shots near the basket and is second in the league with 15 free throw shots per contest.
The 31-year-old is the sole player in the NBA that’s averaging no less than 3.0 deflections and over 9.0 contested shots per game.
He accomplishes all this in first-year head coach JJ Redick’s “switch it up on the fly” defense.
Davis has a unique ability to defend the basket and also come in tight on opposing three-point shooters.
This shows in his incredible numbers: He opposes 18.0 shots per game and detains rival players to just 40.7% shooting in all levels of the game.
While all the attention lately has been on LeBron and his son, Bronny, playing together and making history, let’s not forget about the real goal the team wants to obtain.
To take their team to the NBA finals.
Let’s vote for Davis to win MVP while helping his team achieve that goal.
For another interesting Sports story, please check out:
NCAA Basketball HOF Spotlight: The Shots and Blocks of SU Coach Jim Boeheim
