In the often turbulent world of professional sports, where every misstep is magnified, and criticism flows like a river, LeBron James emerged as the defender-in-chief of his teammate, Anthony Davis, after a triumphant victory for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Phoenix Suns.
It all began with a bitter taste of defeat. The Lakers suffered a 119-107 loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets in their season opener. While a season is a long journey filled with ups and downs, the spotlight fell harshly on eight-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who couldn’t muster a single point in the second half.
Critics pounced on the opportunity to unleash their judgments. Davis, a player with career averages of 24 points and 10 rebounds per game, went scoreless on six shot attempts in the second half after contributing 17 points in the first two quarters. This wasn’t the first time Davis had faced the ire of critics; his lack of consistency during the Lakers’ previous postseason run to the Western Conference finals had already put him in the crosshairs.
But amidst the storm of criticism, King James emerged as the rock, the unwavering force in Anthony Davis’ corner. Following the Lakers’ thrilling 100-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns in their home opener, in which Davis spectacularly rebounded with 19 of his 30 points in the second half, along with 12 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals, James made a stand.
“We don’t give a sh– about criticism about AD,” James boldly proclaimed. “We don’t care. Nothing bothers us. AD doesn’t care. I don’t know if guys have figured that out. AD does not care. He’s not on social media, so he doesn’t see none of the crap. He rarely talks, unless it’s to us. So, we don’t give a sh– about it, and he definitely doesn’t.”
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In a season filled with uncertainty and drama, LeBron James’ unwavering support for Anthony Davis is a testament to the bonds that can be formed on and off the basketball court.