With the 2024 Olympics underway, we’re getting to see Kentucky Wildcats legend Anthony Davis suit up for Team USA as he looks to claim another gold medal.
Over at ESPN, their staff just ranked the 25 best NBA players of the 21st century. To no surprise, Davis made the cut, checking in at No. 19 behind Allen Iverson and ahead of Ray Allen.
Once known for his unibrow more than for his unicorn s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set, Davis blossomed from a defensive lynchpin in his early days in New Orleans to one of the most polished two-way threats in the league after five seasons spent in L.A. So far, nothing he’s done has topped his first season with the Lakers when he teamed with James to deliver the purple and gold their first title in 10 years under the most trying of circumstances as the franchise was reeling from Bryant’s death and the league was put on hiatus because of a global pandemic. His signature shot from L.A.’s bubble run — a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3 to go up 2-0 in the Western Conference finals — has cemented him in Laker lore. The fact that he yelled, “Kobe!” right after making it while wearing the Lakers’ special “Black Mamba” uniform in the game only made it more epic. — Dave McMenamin
Davis has achieved just about every major basketball accomplishment there is. That includes leading Kentucky to its most recent NCAA National Championship, as well as helping the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 NBA title.
