Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis is continuing to find ways to improve his game.
Davis, who is averaging 22.3 points per game this season, has been taking special notes from LeBron James and Marc Gasol to become a better passer.
This is the first season that Davis and Gasol have played together, but Davis is already comparing his frontcourt mate to Nikola Jokic and Draymond Green.
“I just ask them questions,” Davis told The Athletic about James and Gasol. “Some of the plays that those two guys make, it’s unbelievable for me. It’s unreal. Especially for Marc because he’s a bigger guy. There’s a handful of bigs that can actually make those passes: him, Jokic, Draymond.”
The addition of Gasol has helped the Lakers get out to a 16-6 start this season.
“It’s more about reads and spacing than anything,” Gasol said. “At the end of the day, he has to make the read and see what the defense is trying to bait him into and, at the same time, has to stay aggressive. It’s a fine line, and he has to dictate what’s going to happen and kind of bait the defense to what he wants to do.”
After losing Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee in free agency, the Lakers wanted to find a big man that could complement James and Davis.
Gasol’s ability to stretch the floor and be a playmaker at the center position has helped unlock a new dimension in the Lakers’ offense.
Davis has already seen how important Gasol’s passing ability is, and the Lakers hope that it will help them compete for another NBA title.
“On the offensive end, my passing has been the biggest evolution,” Davis said. “Bron might have said I was overlooked, but I wasn’t passing like this in New Orleans.”
