Who’s the Lakers' Alpha Now: LeBron James or Anthony Davis?

The Los Angeles Lakers secured a hard-fought 107-99 road victory over the injury-riddled New Orleans Pelicans in their most recent game. Despite the Pelicans being severely undermanned, the game was far from smooth sailing for the Lakers. They trailed by as much as 15 points in the first half before clawing their way back in the third quarter. Early in the fourth, they held a 10-point lead, only to find themselves down 95-97 with two minutes remaining after Brandon Ingram drilled a clutch three-pointer.

When the pressure was on, LeBron James took control. The 39-year-old icon hit back-to-back three-pointers, turning a two-point deficit into a four-point lead. His second triple was followed by a rare display of emotion as he broke out his iconic “Silencer” celebration, galvanizing the Lakers to an eventual victory.

While James’ late-game heroics were crucial, his overall performance in the game wasn’t his sharpest. Before those critical shots, he had missed all five of his previous three-point attempts. By the final buzzer, James finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting 8-for-19 from the field and committing 6 turnovers.

Yet, any doubts about James’ capability at this stage of his career are quickly silenced when looking at his recent run of form. Before this game, James had delivered four consecutive triple-doubles:

• Against the Spurs: 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists.
• Against the Grizzlies: 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists.
• Against the Raptors: 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 16 assists.
• Against the 76ers: 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists.

This historic stretch marked the first time in James’ illustrious career that he achieved four straight triple-doubles. At 39 years old, he also became the oldest player in NBA history to accomplish this feat, shattering Russell Westbrook’s previous record of 33 years old. Adding to the milestone, James has already logged five triple-doubles this season. To put that into perspective, he recorded the same number of triple-doubles in 71 games last season.

James’ overall numbers this season are nothing short of remarkable, especially given his age. After playing all 13 games so far, he is averaging 23.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.6 assists per game on efficient shooting splits of 52.3% from the field, 44.6% from three, and 75.8% from the free-throw line. His true shooting percentage sits at an elite 63.0%.

LeBron James remains a superstar, but his role within the Lakers’ hierarchy seems to be shifting. With Anthony Davis playing at an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year level, the question arises: is Davis now the Lakers’ top dog?

Against the Pelicans, Davis was the anchor for the Lakers on both ends of the court. He posted 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 steals while shooting 12-for-20 from the field, 2-for-4 from three, and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line. His dominance has been consistent this season, highlighted by a recent string of jaw-dropping performances:

• Against the Spurs, Davis dominated Victor Wembanyama, scoring 40 points and grabbing 12 rebounds on 14-for-26 shooting.
• In back-to-back wins over the Raptors and Pistons, he tallied 38 points and 12 rebounds, followed by 37 points and 9 rebounds.
• Earlier in the season, he posted 36 points and 16 rebounds against the Timberwolves and 35 points and 8 rebounds against the Suns.

Through 12 games, Davis has been a force of nature, averaging 31.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game. He is shooting 55.7% from the field, 41.7% from three, and 79.8% from the free-throw line, resulting in a true shooting percentage of 64.9%.

Davis’ increased offensive role is evident in his career-high usage rate of 31.8%, up significantly from 26.1% last season. This adjustment has paid dividends, as his scoring average has jumped by 6.5 points per game compared to last season, ranking him second in the league in scoring. On the defensive end, Davis remains a powerhouse, contesting 17.8 shots per game. Opponents shoot just 44.6% from the field and 27.7% from three when guarded by Davis, compared to 50.1% and 35.5% league averages.

High-level statistics further underscore Davis’ dominance this season. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a league-leading 30.9, far ahead of James’ 22.8. Davis also has a higher Box Plus-Minus (BPM) of 7.8 compared to James’ 5.8, and his Win Shares (WS) stand at 2.2 versus James’ 1.5.

Interestingly, even in the gaming world, the balance of power has shifted. In the latest NBA 2K ratings update, Davis is rated 96 overall, while James sits at 95. This marks the first time in LeBron James’ career that a teammate has surpassed him in the game’s ratings.

But this isn’t a bad thing for James or the Lakers. At nearly 40 years old, James can no longer shoulder the same workload he did during his prime years. Having Davis step into a leading role allows James to conserve energy for the grueling 82-game regular season and, more importantly, the playoffs.

The Lakers, after all, are in a critical window. With James nearing retirement, this season or the next may be the final opportunity for the LeBron-AD duo to contend for a championship. If the Lakers are to win another title before James hangs up his sneakers, Davis’ ability to dominate on both ends of the floor will be the deciding factor.

While LeBron James remains one of the greatest players in the league, Anthony Davis’ evolution into the Lakers’ cornerstone is not just necessary—it’s a sign of the team’s best chance to capture banner No. 18. Whether it’s this year or next, the Lakers’ fate will depend on how far Davis can carry them.