Lakers' Anthony Davis Having 1 of Best Offseasons of Career, GM Rob Pelinka Says

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is telling the rest of the NBA that Anthony Davis is ready for a bounce-back season after an injury-plagued season.

Pelinka said that he thinks he has put together one of the biggest offseasons of his career. It's possible to just tell. He has a seriousness about him. Everyone is going to come back with a chip on their shoulder, and A.D. is going to lead us with that. He is working hard. He is working hard on his body.

Pelinka's comments came after Lethal Shooter, an NBA skills coach, said that Davis was locked in and had been training early in the morning every day this summer.

Lethal Shooter @LethalShooter__

Anthony Davis been locked in! Training everyday at 4:50am is what it takes! After 400makes, FT’s are key! To be the best if you need to be up before the rest. More work to be done this summer!🏁🎯 @AntDavis23 . -Stay locked in! #NBA #LethalShooter pic.twitter.com/YzFwyUebu6

If the Lakers want to contend for a title, Davis must play a huge role, according to Darvin Ham.

He is the biggest factor. He's going to have a big year this year. The way we play will benefit him. Making sure we take care of him will benefit him. That approach is based on that size and skill set. We're going to bring back what you saw. We have to make sure we take care of him, meet all of his needs, and make sure he's in a good place mentally, spiritually, but he's the factor. Without AD being right, this won't work.

Davis has had to contend with injuries over the last two years.

In the 2020-21 season, Davis played in just 36 regular-season games for the Lakers, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns.

Davis appeared in just 40 games for the Purple and Gold side that finished 11th in the Western Conference and failed to make the playoffs.

The Lakers should get a boost from the return of Davis. He averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebound, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.3 blocks in 62 games in the last year, while shooting 50.3 percent from the floor and 33.0% from deep.

The Lakers won the 2020 NBA title without Davis.

The Lakers will need Russell Westbrook to have a better season after a disappointing season in which they finished last in the NBA.