Count Anthony Davis among those who believe the Los Angeles Lakers would have been overwhelming favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals if Kawhi Leonard had signed with the storied franchise.
In fact, Davis is practically positive of it.
Appearing as a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday night, Davis told host Jimmy Kimmel his thoughts on what it would have been like to add Leonard to the Lakers, a team that also features four-time MVP LeBron James.
Leonard of course decided to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, creating a fascinating cross-town rivalry between the two clubs.
“You could have marked it up as champions right there,” Davis said. “The Staples Center is gonna be a lot of fun this year. You’ve got two great teams. Obviously, we brought a lot of excitement back to the Lakers organization where we’re supposed to be, what all the fans are used to, so that’s gonna be fun. Every night going into the Staples especially against the Clippers is gonna be a battle so we’re excited about it.”
Rather than create a superteam with Davis and James, Leonard instead chose to partner with 2019-20 MVP candidate Paul George with the Clippers.
Last season, Leonard arguably had his best season as a pro despite playing in only 60 games. He averaged 26.6 point, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest.
He also shot 37.1 percent from 3-point range and 49.6 percent from the field overall. More importantly, he led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA back in June.
As one of the premier two-way players in the league, Leonard would have certainly increased the Lakers’ chances at winning the NBA championship next year and beyond.
Despite not having him on their roster, the Lakers are still considered title contenders.
