Anthony Davis had a disappointing night against the Orlando Magic.

"Anthony Davis wasnt even trying tonight"- NBA fans are fuming at Lakers after another miserable outing against the Magic

Modified Mar 21, 2023 06:11 GMT

Anthony Davis played like the LA Lakers weren't in desperate need of a win in their 111-105 victory over the Orlando Magic. Davis finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and two steals but disappointed most of his team's fans.

Twitter promptly trolled AD for his forgettable night against the Magic:

"Anthony davis wasnt even TRYING tonight"

ADisney 🤡

@OliverWin2015

@Trevor_Lane Anthony davis wasnt even TRYING tonight

Mark Jackson’s Burner

@casualtakeking

Austin Reaves saved Anthony Davis’s legacy with all due respect

Jean Ortiz

@JeanOrt1551

@casualtakeking AD so embarassing man

KV26 | King26Vince

@king26vince

@casualtakeking Is AD really a top 75?

Jeff Reyes

@JeffReyesIII

@casualtakeking What’s going on with @AntDavis23 ? Dude’s supposed to be a top 10 player. AR definitely saved this game. It should’ve been an easy win. The way they’re playing, @Suns will cook them on Wednesday

That Abdemayo Dude

@abdemayo

@casualtakeking What legacy lmao

Ymir (34-35)(playoffs here we go)

@Lakerfansince07

@casualtakeking the dude set a screen then goes to the corner like his Miller or some 3pt shooter lmao

Rayan Booyah

@BooyahRayan

@BrickMuse Ad 15 points in a must win game trade this bum

Midnight Ride

@MidnightRideYC

@KingJosiah54 Honestly can't really even consider AD a star player right now. Dude is basically producing what you'd expect from any placeholder 5 lately. Even his good games have stretches where he just completely disappears.

Daddy

@Ballenjoyer23

@BrickMuse i remember people saying he was better than giannis

nothing to smile about in this life

@scottsucks_

Anthony Davis if he wasn’t a generational defender

There have been times during his career when Anthony Davis has played like the best player in the NBA. He showed it on numerous occasions for the LA Lakers this season, particularly when he had that stretch where he was obliterating every opponent.

There have also been times when fans question his mental fortitude and desire to consistently be great. Anthony Davis' production tonight was not what the Lakers needed from a player who has been groomed to be LeBron James' heir in LA.

Orlando Magic's Wendell Carter Jr. looked like a superstar tonight against AD. Carter Jr. went toe-to-toe with Davis and came out better several times. Davis looked disengaged and content to let Reaves lead the team.

The eight-time All-Star admitted last Friday that the loss to the Dallas Mavericks was his fault. He committed three errors which led to the Mavericks' stunning come-from-behind win via a Maxi Kleber buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

Everybody expected Anthony Davis to play like an MVP tonight. Instead, it took a career game from Austin Reaves to save the Lakers tonight and probably the season.

LeBron James couldn't contain his excitement and appreciation for Reaves for stepping up big time.

LeBron James

@KingJames

AR YOU A BAD MUTHA...SHUT YO MOUTH!!! You toooooo TOUGH!!

🫡

Had LA lost tonight, they would have dropped to 34-38 and put them in 12th place in the Western Conference. Their win now pushes them to 10th in the standings and will desperately try to hold on to that position.

The LA Lakers badly need Anthony Davis to be at his best to make the play-in

The LA Lakers still have 10 games remaining, five of which will be away from Crypto.com Arena. Except against the Houston Rockets, every team they will be playing against has playoff aspirations.

LA will desperately need Anthony Davis to be at least a top-10 player in the NBA to come through. Three of the games that will have a direct impact on the Lakers' playoff hopes will be against the OKC Thunder and the Utah Jazz twice.

Oklahoma and LA are tied 1-1 in their season series, while the Jazz are unbeaten in two games against Davis and crew.

Los Angeles Lakers

@Lakers

SPLASH ZONE

The Thunder are in eighth place with a 35-36 record, just one game ahead of the Lakers. Utah is 34-36 in a virtual tie with Los Angeles for the ninth-10th spot. Anthony Davis will have to impose his will for the rest of the season or LA will be eliminated for the second straight season.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham has insisted that Davis has been pain-free since returning from a stress fracture injury. AD has also supported that assertion.

The Lakers' misfortunes have been blamed on Davis' inability to stay healthy. He's injury-free now and should be the player everyone expects him to be. If he can't take the Lakers to at least the play-in tourney, then Kevin Garnett's assertion that LA could trade him could be a reality.