March is often a time when school spirit is at an all-time high and while Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker and Lakers star forward Anthony Davis both bleed Kentucky blue, their allegiances end there.
In 2021, Booker's Suns dethroned the defending champion Lakers in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, with Davis severely limited due to a groin injury in Game 4 that held him out of Game 5 and limited him to five minutes of action in Game 6.
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Prior to the third of four regular-season meetings between the Suns and Lakers in the 2021-22 season, Davis was asked if his injury was the reason the Suns were able to advance in the first round, to which he replied, "it was
Anthony Davis, asked if his groin injury is the main reason the Lakers didn’t beat the Suns in the playoffs last year, says: “It was … We know that. They know that … They got away with one”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 13, 2022
With Davis sidelined due to a mid-foot sprain, the Suns earned a 140-111 rout over the Lakers on Sunday night, led by 30 points and 10 assists from Booker. Following the game, Booker shared that he found humor in Davis' claim.
"Nah, that's what's gonna happen anyways. I just think it's funny," Booker said when asked if Davis' words lit a fire into him and the team.
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When asked why it was funny, Booker added that "it's just all the 'ifs' and if 'if' was a fifth, we'd all be drunk," in addition to another old adage.
Devin Booker's full response to Anthony Davis pregame comments, including this gem: "If 'ifs' were a fifth, we'd all be drunk."
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) March 14, 2022
Simply shrugged and laughed when somebody brought up Chris Paul being hurt in last year's playoff series: pic.twitter.com/Z7RT6FYA99
"It's a lot of 'ifs' in this game and you look at history along the lines and there's something that comes up for every team during every season," Booker continued. "So instead of just taking the high route and going, you have to make a comment like that. It's kind of funny."
Booker couldn't help but laugh and shrug when it was noted that Chris Paul, who went down with a shoulder injury in Game 1 last year, was severely limited in the first-round series as well.
LA and Phoenix meet for one final time in the regular season on April 5, but that might not be the end of the saga, as a playoff rematch could be in the cards.
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With the Lakers likely finishing ninth or 10th in the West, they could only earn the eighth seed in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament, which would set up a date with the Suns, who are on track to clinch the top seed.
We'll see if Davis' availability has an impact on a potential series this time around.
