Anthony Davis was recently the subject of some interest from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. The four-time NBA MVP said the obvious and told reporters that he would indeed love to play with Davis in Los Angeles. Because, obviously.
But Davis isn’t feeling quite the same, right now. The five-time All-Star isn’t quite looking towards a future with LeBron James, he’s obviously more worried about leading his team from their current under .500 record.
Zach Lowe of ESPN spoke to Davis recently about James’ comments.
“I don’t really care,” Davis told ESPN of James’ comments Wednesday night after the Pelicans’ 123-115 loss to the Bucks. “Obviously, it’s cool to hear any high-caliber player say they want to play with me. But my job is to turn this team around. If we’re 15-17, that means I’m not doing my job.”
Davis went on to say his focus remains on New Orleans, potentially beyond this season, and not on his contract.
“When that time comes, of course, we will see,” Davis said. “I love my teammates. I love New Orleans. I love the fans. I talk their slang. I love their food.”
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Davis said he isn’t ready to go there yet, though he is flattered by LeBron’s comments.
“Right now,” he said, “my focus is on this team.”
Davis will not be a free agent until 2020 but this summer he is eligible for a special five-year, $239 million supermax extension that he can sign and avoid free agency altogether. So far, the supermax has been hit-or-miss for some NBA teams. Jimmy Butler in Chicago, DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento, Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio and Paul George in Indiana all didn’t get the chance to or didn’t want to sign that deal with their respective teams for different reasons but all of them were traded before getting a chance to sign it. Meanwhile, the supermax has worked out for the Thunder and Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, John Wall and the Wizards and the Rockets with James Harden.
A trio of former MVPs signed the supermax while some of the high-level all-stars went on to a new journey before getting a chance to sign that deal. Davis is the big question looming and could be the biggest test yet of the supermax contract.
