Anthony Davis said the Los Angeles Lakers will be capable of challenging
for the NBA championship immediately next season as the six-time
All-Star was formally unveiled by the organisation on Saturday.
The 26-year-old superstar is set to form a potent strikeforce alongside
LeBron James after joining the Lakers following a blockbuster trade deal
with the New Orleans Pelicans last month.
The Lakers, who missed the playoffs last season for a sixth straight
year despite the arrival of LeBron James in 2018, will field a new-look
line-up for the 2019 campaign which also includes new signings Danny
Green and DeMarcus Cousins.
With the Lakers also starting the campaign with a new head coach in
Frank Vogel, there is a possibility the roster may take time to gel.
But a bullish Davis, however, is adamant the Lakers can make an instant
impression as they attempt to re-establish the team as a force in the
NBA.
"I'll put our roster up against anybody," Davis told a press conference.
"In a seven-game series, I think we'll come out victorious."
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters that the acquisition
of Davis could be a "history-shifting" chapter for the franchise,
lavishing praise on the new signing's versatility.
"There is no more complete basketball player in the game," Pelinka said.
"There is nothing he can't do. He can shoot. He can make plays. He can
defend 1-5. He can protect the rim. He can handle the ball. His
dedication to his craft is unparalleled."
Davis meanwhile said he couldn't wait to form a partnership with James,
after brief previous experiences alongside him during All-Star games and
at the Olympics.
"To get a full season and to see the things he's able to do - pass,
shoot, talks well defensively, great leader, so I'm excited to get a lot
of that this season, and just go from there," said Davis, who revealed
he learned about his trade last month after seeing it posted on
Instagram.
Davis added he expects to play a full part in the Lakers season next year, brushing off a question about "load management."
"I'm playing," Davis said. "I'm 26 years old. I love the game of basketball. I'm ready to play."
Davis will wear the No.3 jersey next season after an offer from James to allow him to keep his preferred No.23 hit a snag.
The jersey number offer from James was scuppered after opposition from
sponsors Nike, who had potentially been faced with the prospect of being
stuck with millions of dollars worth of "James 23" jerseys if the deal
had gone ahead.
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