Los Angeles Lakers Photo
Former Wildcat Anthony Davis joined some elite company with his 34-point performance for the Los Angeles Lakers in their easy win over Miami in Game 1 of the NBA Finals but the former UK star was a lot happier about having his father at the game than any scoring total
“It means a lot. He forced my mom to do that seven-day quarantine to be here, so for him to — he’s always been the one to go to all my games, in the home market, not more so on the road,” Davis said after the game.
“But he’s extremely proud of me. You know, for him to be here, essentially courtside to watch me in my first Finals game means a lot to me. “We just got to finish it off. He wants us to win. He wants me to be a champion. So it’s a little bit more pressure coming from him, but it was fun. It was fun seeing him courtside watching me in that first game.”
Davis’ 34 points tied for third for a player in his Laker debut in the Finals behind Shaquille O’Neal and George Mikan. Davis is tied for third with Elgin Baylor. He also had nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Overall, only three players have had better scoring games in their Final debut since the NBA-ABA merger than Davis: Allen Iverson had 48 in 2001, Michael Jordan 36 in 1991 and Kevin Durant 36 in 2012.
“Yeah, it’s a great honor to be in that category with those guys. I mean, they have done so much for the game, Hall of Famers, and for me to come out and perform that way and be mentioned with those guys, especially just as a Laker,” Davis said. “With the biggest franchise in basketball, them guys that you watch film on but you idolize, and now that, like you say, to be in that category, is definitely a huge honor for me.
“Like I say, what makes it even more sweeter is winning it. And so obviously that’s a great honor, but I also want to be mentioned in categories with champions, so that’s the next step.
“But the accolades along the way, you know, a list I’m able to join along the way is definitely something you don’t think about. It just kind of happens when you go out there and play, but it’s definitely a great honor.”
