Lakers News: Anthony Davis Offers Guidance to Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on Handling External Pressure.
The Los Angeles Lakers, following their recent defeat in Dallas, are presented with an opportunity for a swift turnaround as they travel to San Antonio to take on the Spurs on Wednesday. This matchup could mark the initial encounter between Lakers’ standout Anthony Davis and the Spurs’ rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama, standing at an unprecedented 7’4 with guard-like abilities, possesses a unique skill set that includes ball-handling, deep shooting, and an already established reputation as one of the premier shot-blockers in the NBA.
Being the most anticipated prospect since LeBron James entered the league in 2003, Wembanyama faces immense expectations and pressure to perform. When asked about the external expectations on the Spurs rookie, Davis emphasized the importance for Wembanyama to not be burdened by outside pressures but instead focus on playing his game and contributing to his team’s success.
“Yeah, I mean obviously he’s got the best coach to ever do it over there with him to help him through all of that to be in his ear. It’s tough, obviously it’s a lot of pressure and everyone is locking in on you whether it’s media or other players coming in that you’re facing. There’s pressure on you to perform well from the outside but as long as, at least for me when I came into the league, obviously my path was a little different being able to play with guys like Bron and Kobe and Melo and all those guys in the Olympics to kind of make it a smoother transition for me.
“But you just got to go in and play, find your way. You’re gonna have ups and downs in the season. Obviously he’s an exceptional talent but don’t stress yourself over the pressure from everyone else. You got to know what your team wants from you and don’t think that you have to turn a franchise around your first year. I don’t think no one has even done that, even Bron in his rookie year… Even the greatest to ever lace them up didn’t do it in his rookie year. So I think just slow roll it, take your time and each year, each game just get better and better.”
Continual improvement with each game is crucial, and, as Davis pointed out, even LeBron James couldn’t immediately elevate his team to playoff status as a rookie, let alone championship contention. The external scrutiny on every move Wembanyama makes will be intense, and if he allows it to affect him, it could be counterproductive.
However, Wembanyama has already made an impressive start to his career. Currently, he shares the league lead in blocks per game at 2.8 and ranks in the top-10 in rebounds with 10.6, complemented by an average of 18.8 points per game. The rookie’s potential seems limitless, and Davis and the Lakers will face a significant challenge in containing him during their upcoming matchup.
Lakers’ Anthony Davis doesn’t care about outside criticism
Davis emphasizes this to Wembanyama because he, himself, has faced significant criticism in recent seasons. However, Davis remains unfazed by external opinions, stating that as long as the Lakers are succeeding, he disregards outside commentary and concentrates on his individual performance and the team’s success.
