Anthony Davis still believes in pairing with LeBron James, says they will have conversation on 'what changed'

DENVER — Anthony Davis thinks he and LeBron James can still be the core of a title team moving forward despite two straight disappointing seasons following their championship in 2020.

«I think us two can. We've shown that we can,» Davis said, conducting a season wrap news conference before the Los Angeles Lakers played their final game of the season on Sunday. «I don't know that's something we just have to reevaluate in the offseason, upstairs, me and him talking about this season and what we would like to see next season and kind of just figure it out.

»… [We will] come together as a group… to get back to championship mentality that we had our first year. So that would be a very interesting conversation just from the standpoint of what changed. I mean, injuries, but even when we were healthy I don't think we were able to reach our full potential. For whatever reason. So I think we want to figure it out and just get back to that championship pedigree that us as players know we're capable of."

L.A. beat the Nugget 146-141 in overtime to finish the season 33-49 — the 22nd best record in a 30-team league after the Lakers came into training camp as one of the Las Vegas favorites to win the championship. Davis played in just 40 games because of knee and foot injuries, including 21 of L.A.'s final 24 games after the All-Star break. The Lakers stumbled to the finish line, going 6-18 in that stretch.

Davis said that surgery on his right mid-foot sprain was never an option but added he could undergo an MRI on the injury this week.

«Taking however much time off and then coming back and getting back after it and getting ready for next season,» he said.

Davis performed better than the 2020-21 campaign when he seemed spent from the