Anthony Davis

 

Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. (born March 11, 1993), nicknamed “AD” and “the Brow,” is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A ten-time NBA All-Star, Davis is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time. He has been named to five All-NBA First Teams and five NBA All-Defensive Teams, won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

 

Standing 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and weighing 253 pounds (115 kg), Davis plays both power forward and center positions. He is known for his exceptional two-way play, combining elite scoring ability with dominant shot-blocking and defensive presence.

 

Early Life

 

Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anthony Davis Sr. and Erainer Davis. He grew up in the city’s Englewood neighborhood with his twin sister Antoinette and older sister Lesha, who played basketball at Daley College. Davis attended Perspectives Charter School, where he experienced a remarkable growth spurt, growing eight inches between his sophomore and junior years of high school. This transformation changed him from a point guard into a dominant big man while retaining his guard skills.

 

College Career

 

Davis played one season of college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats (2011-12) under coach John Calipari. He wore No. 23, which he chose in honor of Michael Jordan, his childhood hero from Chicago.

 

In his freshman season, Davis averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 62.3% from the field. He started all 40 games as Kentucky went 38-2, sweeping the SEC with a perfect 16-0 conference record. Davis became one of the most decorated freshmen in college basketball history, winning:

 

– NCAA National Championship (defeating Kansas 67-59)

– NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player

– Consensus National Player of the Year (AP, Wooden Award, Naismith Award, Rupp Trophy)

– USBWA National Freshman of the Year

– NABC Defensive Player of the Year

– SEC Player of the Year

– SEC Defensive Player of the Year

 

Davis set an NCAA Division I freshman record with 186 blocks for the season, surpassing Hassan Whiteside’s 182 in 2010. His six blocks in the championship game tied the NCAA tournament record set by Joakim Noah in 2006. Following the season, Davis declared for the NBA Draft alongside his four starting teammates.

 

NBA Career

 

New Orleans Pelicans (2012–2019)

 

Davis was selected first overall by the New Orleans Hornets (later renamed Pelicans) in the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28, 2012. At the draft combine, he measured 6’9.25″ with a 7’5.5″ wingspan, the second-longest among participants.

 

In his rookie season, Davis averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors and finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Damian Lillard. He recorded 20 double-doubles, the most among rookies.

 

Davis rapidly developed into one of the NBA’s elite players. In 2013-14, he averaged 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.8 blocks per game. On February 10, 2016, he scored a career-high 59 points against Detroit, setting a Pelicans franchise record.

 

During his New Orleans tenure, Davis earned six All-Star selections (2014-2018, 2020), won the 2017 All-Star Game MVP (scoring a record 52 points), and led the NBA in blocks three times (2014, 2015, 2018). However, the Pelicans struggled to build a championship contender around him, advancing past the first round just once in his seven seasons.

 

In January 2019, Davis requested a trade, listing the Lakers as a preferred destination.

 

Los Angeles Lakers (2019–2025)

 

On July 6, 2019, the Lakers acquired Davis in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks. Davis switched from No. 23 to No. 3 because LeBron James wore 23.

 

Davis made his Lakers debut on October 22, 2019, recording 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Clippers. On October 29, he became the first Laker since Shaquille O’Neal (2003) to record a 40-point, 20-rebound game, accomplishing this in just 30 minutes, an NBA record. In that game, Davis set multiple free-throw records: 18 in a quarter (NBA record), 18 in a half (Lakers record), and 26 in a game (Lakers record).

 

2020 NBA Championship

 

The 2019-20 season culminated in Davis winning his first NBA championship. The Lakers finished 52-19 before the COVID-19 suspension. In the NBA Finals against Miami, Davis and James led the Lakers to a 4-2 series victory, securing the franchise’s 17th championship. Davis became only the eighth player to achieve basketball’s “Triple Crown”: an NCAA championship, Olympic gold medal, FIBA World Cup, and NBA championship. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

 

On December 3, 2020, Davis signed a five-year, $190 million contract extension.

 

Final Lakers Years and Trade to Dallas (2021–2025)

 

Davis’s final Lakers seasons were marred by injuries. He missed 30 games in 2020-21 due to calf and Achilles issues, and just 40 games in 2021-22 due to various ailments. Despite the injuries, he returned to All-Star form in 2023-24, earning his tenth selection.

 

On February 1st, 2025, Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a historic three-team deal for Luka Dončić. However, Davis suffered multiple injuries with Dallas, appearing in only 29 of a possible 83 games between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

 

Washington Wizards (2026–present)

 

On February 4, 2026, the Mavericks traded Davis to the Washington Wizards in a multi-player deal. The move reunited Davis with a rebuilding franchise seeking veteran leadership.

 

International Career

 

Davis represented Team USA at the 2012 Olympics (becoming the first non-NBA player on the team since 2004), winning gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 2024 Paris Olympics, and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

 

Personal Life

 

Davis is married to Marlen Polanco, with whom he has three children: daughter Nala and two sons. He has trademarked phrases related to his signature unibrow, including “Fear the Brow” and “Raise the Brow,” embracing rather than hiding this distinctive feature.

 

References

 

External Links

* Anthony Davis on NBA.com

* Anthony Davis on Basketball-Reference.com