The Los Angeles Lakers frontcourt duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis has been one of the best in the league since the tandem was formed in 2019.
On Wednesday, The Ringer updated its “Top 100 NBA Player Rankings“, and it landed both James and Davis in the top 20.
Davis has had as strong a start to a season as ever and sits eighth in the rankings behind players such as Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.
Though Davis saw no movement since The Ringer‘s November rankings, his play remains competitive among the few ahead of him.
Twenty-three games into the 2024-25 season, Davis is averaging 27.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. In terms of his numbers, the 31-year-old center has been as consistent as any big man over the past few seasons and has done it in dominant fashion.
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Davis is coming off back-to-back 30-point, 10-rebound outings and is looking to further his MVP-caliber season.
On the other hand, Davis’ partner, James is the first player on the list to fall in the rankings. The King finds himself 16th, dropping five spots. Despite a six-game skid where James looked to be slowing down, the 39-year-old veteran has been nothing short of phenomenal.
With 39 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in his last game against the Atlanta Hawks, James is showing why he still belongs in superstar status.
In year 22, the former No. 1 overall pick is averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game, while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. Though James is far removed from his prime, one can argue that No. 16 is too low for the four-time MVP.
Can LeBron James And Anthony Davis Elevate The Los Angeles Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers are the third team on the list to have a pair in the top 16. However, having two of the top 16 players isn’t enough to be a top-seven team in the Western Conference. The Lakers currently hold a 13-11 record and have reached rocky waters just a quarter into the season.
The Davis-James duo has been far from the problem as they combine for 50.5 points per game — 45 percent of the team’s total scoring. Davis’ 25.5 points is good enough for seventh in the league, and James’ 23-point average squeezes him into the top 25.
The pairing also dominates other statistical categories with Davis being in the top seven in rebounds, blocks, and efficiency, while James holds down the fourth slot in assists.
For the Los Angeles Lakers to find their way back to the top of the conference, players such as Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and D’Angelo Russell must find ways to remain healthy and consistent as guard play has been an issue for the Purple and Gold.