Anthony Davis on LeBron James: ‘I’ll Put Our Roster Up Against Anybody’

The Los Angeles Lakers struggled last season to win a few games, but they were free this offseason to sign a big name. They landed Anthony Davis, and the newly acquired player is ready to win a championship.

“I’ll put our roster up against anybody.” This was the sentence that attracted everyone’s attention at the introductory press conference.

“The most difficult part for me was just not knowing,” he said. “When it was announced that I was being traded, I don’t want to say it was a relief, (but) it was something that I’d thought about for a long time. Obviously it was tough to leave the city I’d been playing in for seven years, but I think it was best for me.

“When I found out I’d been traded to the Lakers, I realized it was an unbelievable opportunity for me,” he added. “To be here with a wonderful organization, and then to be able to play alongside LeBron and the players that we have now … to get the opportunity to do that and come here and play for an organization that’s all about winning, and winning championships, and that’s the only goal, I think that was the biggest thing for me.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said Davis is “the most dominant young basketball player in the world.”

“There is no more complete basketball player in the game,” he added. “There is nothing he can’t do. He can shoot. He can make plays. He can defend 1 to 5. He can protect the rim. He can handle the ball. His dedication to his craft is unparalleled. To sit here next to him and think he’s going to be on our team and he’s going to be a pillar in this franchise for many years is just something we’re incredibly proud of.”

“Right now, my focus is on this year, and trying to help this organization become a championship team,” Davis said.

When reporters asked Davis about load management, he said, “I’m playing. I’m 26 years old. I love the game of basketball. I’m ready to play.” He even refused to take his trade bonus. It’s more than obvious that Davis wanted to help the Lakers get Kawhi Leonard.

“Anytime you’re able to acquire a player like Kawhi, I think you have to do almost everything to get a guy like that,” Davis said. “It didn’t work out for us, but I wanted to make sure I did whatever I could to help the team.”