Anthony Davis

A game’s first two shot attempts often arrive too early to explain a story, but in Anthony Davis’ case on December 15, 2024, they served as introductions to a night worth remembering. Accurate and assertive from his first touch, the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar mixed three-level scoring with stout defense, promptly setting the tone for the type of evening he had planned against the Western Conference’s then-No. 2 seed. It proved to be just the beginning of the "Anthony Davis Experience," with alley-oop jams, polished post-ups, and contributions across the box score following closely behind. The recently-named nine-time All-Star continued to rewrite his own reputation, as he battled through a shoulder injury heroically enough to keep Los Angeles firmly attached to his back. Often matched up against a former Defensive Player of the Year on the Memphis Grizzlies’ side, Davis welcomed the challenge, tallying 40 points (on 15-of-22 shooting), 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and a 3-pointer. The Lakers rode that momentum to a six-point win, moving them to 14-12.