Anthony Davis comes into the 2024-2025 NBA season fresh off an Olympic gold medal with Team USA basketball. Anthony Davis has the pedigree and ability to be an MVP-caliber player. However, much the same as Joel Embiid, the frequent and yearly question mark Davis’ playing status. As the saying goes, availability is the best ability.
How many games will he be available for the Lakers this upcoming season? Last season Anthony Davis was outstanding with 76 games played. In the season prior, Davis played in only 53 games, and excluding Covid years, he played 70 plus games only twice. A healthy Davis playing north of 70 games always gives the Lakers a legitimate shot of coming out of the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis 2023-2024 Production
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Last season season Anthony Davis averaged 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and almost 2.3 blocks per game. Davis shot 55.6 % from the field and over 80% from the free-throw line. Davis can post with his back to the basket or face up and get the basket off the dribble.
The Lakers finished 47-35 on the season and the seventh seed in the playoffs. However, Los Angeles without Anthony Davis, was 2-4 last year and the past three seasons are only 30-44. That .405 winning percentage without Davis puts into perspective how vital he is to the Lakers and any legit chance of challenging Dallas or Denver in the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis 2024-2025 Projections
Anthony Davis comes into the NBA pre-season fantasy rankings as number eight overall, the number three center, and the second-ranked power forward. Davis is the ECR eight overall player with an ADP of nine. Davis is projected to average 25 points, 12.7 rebounds 3.5 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 51.4 fantasy points per game.
Davis playing alongside Lebron James, is a huge boon to his fantasy potential. With James on the floor, it is much harder to double-team Davis in the post, and gives him more space to do damage. In the 2023-2-2024 season, Davis had a 26.6 usage rate which was his lowest since the 2013 season. Davis’ career average is 28.1, so we need him to hit that mark and boost his fantasy numbers. Usage rate is how often a team runs a set or plays for a player while on the floor.
Final Thoughts
Based on ADP and consensus rankings, Anthony Davis will be the core of your 2024-2025 NBA fantasy team this season. Davis has an elite upside and if he can beat his projected 66 games played and push that number north of 70, then you will be set.
It is hard to outperform ADP with a first-round ranking but if Davis hits that 75-game mark he could give top-of-first-round value. As we stated above, the only hesitation to have with Davis is whether will he play enough games to return value. Missing on your first-round pick in fantasy can derail your season early, but Davis is worth the first-round ADP due to his elite upside.
