Anthony Davis Would Complain The Most About Shortened Off-Season For Lakers

The Lakers' quest to repeat as champions were fraught with injuries, COVID protocols and a historically short off-season. However, some players were more vocal than others when it came to the team's disadvantages this past season. According to ESPN's Zach Lowe on The Lowe Podcast, All-Star big man Anthony Davis "was the last guy on the roster that would continually bring up that they had a shortened off-season. He had already gotten paid, he had already gotten his ring."

For clarity, when Lowe refers to Davis as "the last guy," he is using it in the form of time elapsed, meaning Davis would belabor the fact that the Lakers had a truncated off-season far longer than anyone else. Furthermore, Lowe highlights how the 28-year-old was relatively complacent after winning his first ring, no longer having to "win to justify his existence in the league."

He was the last guy on the roster that would continually bring up that they had a shortened off-season. He had already gotten paid, he had already gotten his ring. He is some who can be a go with the flow kind of guy. I don't think he had the external forces, whether it be fan adulation or nawing feeling that I better win to justify his existence in the league.

While some will point to a championship hangover for the cause of Davis' subpar play this past season, there's no question he was also injured. He missed much of the regular season due to an Achilles injury and was relegated to watch from the sidelines during the latter half of the Lakers' first-round series loss to the Suns due to a groin strain.

Davis and the Lakers will look to bounce back this upcoming season, this time having a full off-season to recoup. Furthermore, they've added 2017 MVP, Russell Westbrook, to their roster and surrounded their touted big three with ample shooting and veterans. 

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports