Shaquille O’Neal Claims Lakers Big Man Anthony Davis Has Fallen off

Shaquille O’Neal Claims Lakers Big Man Anthony Davis Has Fallen off

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:27 PM
  • Shaquille O'Neal has never been afraid to say what's on his mind
  • He recently claimed that Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis has fallen off
  • Davis started the season well but missed 20 games due to an injury
  • The 29-year-old won the 2020 NBA title with the Lakers but has struggled with injuries in the last few seasons

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal has claimed Anthony Davis has fallen off.

Davis is having a decent season, averaging impressive numbers, with 25.7 points and 12.5 rebounds on 56.4 percent shooting from the field. However, his team are 11th in the Western Conference with a 30-33 record.

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Shaquille O'Neal
Davis was back to his best earlier this season before injury struck. Photo by Justin Ford.
Source: Getty Images

Before getting injured in December 2022, Davis was having a phenomenal season for the Lakers. However, the 29-year-old's career has been plagued by injuries.

Given LeBron James has been ruled out for almost a month with a tendon injury, Davis will have to step up and hold down the fort before the NBA's all-time leading scorer returns to action.

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The team needs to win games to move into a play-in spot, at least. 19 games remain in the regular season for the Lakers, and things will be tougher without James.

O'neal assesses Davis performances

The TNT broadcaster was blunt when discussing the eight-time All-Star.

“I don’t want to say this disrespectfully, but he has fell off. When you are a champion and you're a Laker, they expect you to play at a certain level."

The legendary center added that Davis can rediscover his previous form.

"AD has to be the guy. We know he can do it," via Sporting News.

Davis played 40 and 36 games in the last two seasons. He's entering a period where he should be producing consistent performances.

Nevertheless, he's already played a vital role for the Lakers during the 2020 NBA championship run. That season, he averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 62 NBA games.

O'Neal eats frog on live TV

Sports Brief earlier reported on O'Neal eating frog legs after losing a bet to fellow panelist Ernie Johnson.

Before the College Football Playoff National Championship game in early January 2023, the four-time NBA champion bet Johnson that Johnson's alma mater, the Georgia Bulldogs, would not beat the Texas Christian University's Horned Frogs (TCU).

The former NBA superstar emphatically lost his bet as the Horned Frogs were comprehensively beaten 65-7.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.