The Lakers’ 2023-24 season playoff hopes ended once again at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, who had knocked them out at the Western Conference Final stage the season prior via sweep, though, this time, they at least managed to win a game
However, for much of the season, the Lakers looked rather lackadaisical, with the stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis lacking any real consistency from their supporting cast, with shooting slumps and continuous squad injuries plaguing them throughout the season’s entire duration.
Their short post-season followed much of the same trend, with Los Angeles having to heavily rely on the production of James and Davis, particularly toward the end of games, which ultimately proved too big of a task for the duo over the strength in depth of the Nuggets, in comparison.
Having one of his healthiest seasons in a Lakers uniform, in which he suited up 76 times, Davis was one of Los Angeles’ biggest driving forces, and arguably was one of the reasons why the Lakers found some form down the stretch of the season, where over their last 15 games of the regular season campaign they went 11-4.
Consistently on hand to defend the rim, it came as somewhat of a surprise, at least to the nine-time All-Star, when he wasn’t named as one of the three Defensive Player of the Year finalists. That honor belonged to Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, and rookie sensation Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
And, it’s safe to say that Davis wasn’t too impressed by the matter, publicly stating that the league didn’t like him.
Medina agreed, and actually had Davis ahead of Wembanyama in his DPOY finalists.
Gobert would go on to be named as the recipient of the award, tying history by becoming only the third player ever to win the award four times. Davis would finish fourth in the voting breakdown.
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