All-Star forward Anthony Davis continues to battle a nagging left ankle injury even as he dominated with 37 points and nine rebounds in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.
Davis appeared to aggravate the injury late in the fourth quarter, limping noticeably. However, he quickly dismissed concerns about missing time, interrupting teammate LeBron James’ postgame interview to declare “He’s not out,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The eight-time All-Star revealed he’s been managing the ankle issue since representing Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer. “I’ve been dealing with it since the summer honestly, just trying to do everything before the game to get on the floor,” Davis said. “Kinda just landed directly on the spot that’s been killing me. We’ll figure it out.”
Davis’ injury history has been a persistent narrative throughout his career. Since joining the Lakers in 2019, he’s missed significant time with various ailments, including a stress injury in his right foot that sidelined him for 20 games last season. In the 2021-22 campaign, he appeared in only 40 games due to knee and ankle injuries, while playing just 36 games in 2020-21 because of calf and Achilles issues.
Despite these setbacks, Davis has showcased remarkable resilience when healthy, playing a crucial role in the Lakers’ 2020 championship run. Through seven games this season, he’s averaging 32.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, demonstrating the elite two-way impact that earned him a three-year, $186 million contract extension in August.
The timing of the flare-up presents a challenge for the Lakers as they prepare to face the Memphis Grizzlies. Davis’ availability will be closely monitored, though his postgame comments suggest he intends to remain on the court.
For a Lakers team with championship aspirations, Davis’ health could prove crucial to their success. His dominant play despite the ankle issue demonstrates his value to the team, even as questions persist about his long-term durability. Since entering the league in 2012, he’s played more than 70 games in a season only twice.
The Lakers medical staff faces the delicate balance of managing Davis’ immediate effectiveness against his availability for the full season. As the team looks to bounce back from their loss to Detroit, Davis’ determination to play through pain could prove decisive in maintaining their early-season momentum.
