Why Anthony Davis needs to take the reins from LeBron

The Lakers lost the season opener on Tuesday to the defending champion Nuggets.

In the game, star LeBron James was held to 29 minutes. LA plans to hold James to 28-30 minutes per game in the regular season. For more on that, read here.

James played 35 minutes in the second game of the season against the Phoenix Suns, but that may be a rare occurrence in the regular season.

With James’ minute restriction, it’s time for Anthony Davis to take the reins as the best player and leader of the team. Davis is a tremendous two-way player who dominates on the defensive end and can be an elite scorer on offense.

Davis started out the opening game on fire, as he had 17 points. However, in the second half, he didn’t score at all.

Injuries and inconsistency on offense have plagued Davis over the past few seasons. This season, the Lakers need Davis to be consistent on the offensive end of the floor.

The 30-year-old is a very talented player who can score at all three levels but excels at scoring in the post and in the paint. He worked on his three-point shot in the offseason, and he showcased he has improved from that range.

Davis played well in the second game of the season against the Suns. He finished with 30/12/2 with three steals and three blocks. He shot 10-17 from the field and 1-2 from three. He dominated on both ends of the floor, leading the Lakers to victory.

Davis needs to be aggressive on offense like he was against Phoenix. If Davis is attacking and can average anywhere from 26 to 30 points per game for the Lakers this season, they will be among the best teams in the league.

However, if Davis is unable to be consistent on the offensive end, it could force Ham to play James more minutes in the regular season.

James is 38 years old, and it’s time for Davis to take the reins as the best player on the team. The Lakers will be title contenders if Davis plays at the MVP level he is capable of.