Ranking the top 10 Kentucky Wildcats in the NBA: Where do Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro land?
By Brennan Sims
3. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, Kentucky 2012
When you think about it, there are many parallels between Bam and Anthony Davis. Those are the two best defenders in the world. Both are criticized for not scoring enough, but they've shown they can play integral parts in deep playoff runs. They continue the long lineage of Kentucky basketball greatness.
Davis can do everything Bam can do defensively, but he is 6'11. His gogo gadget arms muck up passing lanes. Offensive players don't relish the moment attacking AD. Players only shoot 54% with him lurking in the lane. Offensively, he's playing the role he is supposed to.
In 2019, Davis was slimmer, faster, and had a consistent jumper. We have to stop living back then and focus on the now. Davis is an impeccable rim runner who finishes everything. Throw it up, and he'll get it; take a bad shot, and he'll get it. Davis has been on another level on both sides of the court and deserves his flowers for playing.
Jokes have been made about his availability for years, but he's played 65 of the possible 69 Lakers games this year. He qualifies for the NBA awards by playing 65 games and is an All-Defense lock. We'll see about All-NBA. Our next entry is playing at that level, but games played may hold him back if he misses more games.