Winning an NBA championship requires significant sacrifices from every player on the roster, from the stars to the role players. Having been part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 championship team, Anthony Davis fully understands the importance of those sacrifices.
In line with this mindset, the Lakers and head coach JJ Redick have already made a change to the starting lineup, moving D’Angelo Russell to the bench and inserting Cam Reddish into the starting five. Despite the adjustment, Davis believes that every player on the team shares the same goal: doing whatever is necessary to win.
“Everyone has to make sacrifices to win a championship. Some sacrifices are bigger than others, but that’s the reality of winning. It’s what successful teams do. All championship-winning teams have had players who sacrificed,” Davis said after practice on Tuesday. “It’s about whether players are willing to accept their roles and understand that sacrifices are part of the process. I believe everyone on this team is committed to that and ready to do whatever it takes.”
Davis pointed out that the team’s acceptance of Redick’s early lineup decision shows that everyone is on board with this mindset. “It’s not just talk—it’s genuine. That’s why it’s not a big deal when JJ tells D’Lo he’s coming off the bench and wants Cam to start. Everyone is willing to sacrifice for the good of the team,” Davis explained. “I think everyone has been focused on doing what’s necessary for the team to win and, ultimately, compete for a championship.”
On the court, Davis has been playing at an MVP level to start the 2024-25 season, cementing his place in the MVP conversation. Following the Lakers’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, Redick was open about the conversations he had with Davis heading into the season, emphasizing what he expected from him.
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