Will the Lakers see a new and improved version of Anthony Davis this season?
That might be the case, given his offseason work. Already one of the most effective post scorers in league history, the six-time All-Star has been working on his 3-point shot.
Davis was asked recently during a Twitter Q&A how he's improved his game this summer.
“This summer I improved the most on my 3-ball. I wanted to be able to stretch the floor,” Davis said. “As a big, the game is definitely going that way now. … I for sure want to get that [percentage] in the high 30s. By me doing that I’ll be able to help the Lakers as much as possible … and hopefully win a championship.”
Davis averaged 33.1 percent from beyond the arc last season, and 34 percent the year before, not terrible figures, but below the NBA average that usually hovers around 35-36 percent (it was 35.5 percent last season).
The Lakers acquired Davis in June in a blockbuster trade that sent Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks to the Pelicans. If he's able to consistently step outside and knock down 3s, it opens up space for new teammate LeBron James.
Advanced analytics suggest Davis is already above average on catch-and-shoot 3s; according to NBA.com, he hit 37.7 percent of those attempts last season. If he's improved in that respect … look out NBA.