Anthony Davis is focused on winning a championship in his first season with LeBron James and that commitment is strong enough to keep him out of this summer’s FIBA World Cup. But that commitment and focus also extends to the speculation many are likely to have about whether Davis will have a long-term future with the Lakers, unlike the last time they traded for one of the best big men in the game.
Davis was asked by Rachel Nichols of ESPN about whether he believed he was a pillar of the Lakers organization for years to come after his introduction on Saturday. Davis declined to talk about the future and said he would think about it when the time comes, hopefully after winning a title.
ESPN: You’re only signed through this season. Do you think you will be a pillar of the Lakers for years and years to come?
AD: Honestly, Rachel, I’m just focused on this season. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have one year here, so I’m going make the best of this year. And when that time comes around in the summer or, you know, whenever the season’s over — hopefully, around, you know, mid-June, after we just had a parade, and I need a couple days to think — then we can talk about that. But until then, I’m trying to do whatever I can to help this team win this year.
The Lakers are entering the season as one of the favorites to win next year’s championship, in what is expected to be one of the most wide-open title races in recent NBA history.
