Anthony Davis Says Lakers Championship Chances Are Higher Now Than Before The Hiatus

Davis said his lingering shoulder injury had a chance to heal and he's now 100 percent healthy.

Anthony Davis joked that he let himself go over the last four months. 

"I got so fat," Davis said in a video conference call on Thursday. "I was eating burgers everyday."

Davis, a seven-time All-Star, then told the truth. He feels better than ever. His lingering right shoulder injury has healed. He's well-rested. 

"I feel 100 percent healthy," Davis said. "Well, I don’t feel -- I am."

Davis said he didn't have any procedures after the NBA was suspended on March 11 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He just rested, worked out every day, spent time with his family and played a lot of Call of Duty and NBA 2K. 

Davis said the time off worked magic on his body.  

"We were definitely hitting a mark where we were playing a lot of games in a lot of days and we’re getting towards the end of the season where we’re trying to solidify that first place spot in the West," Davis said. "...So we were playing a lot of games, a lot of minutes. It was just more so letting everything rest and heal on its own."

LeBron James, on the other hand, expressed concern in March that the extended break was not beneficial for him in an appearance on the Road Trippin' Podcast, saying, "My body when we stopped playing was asking me, 'What the hell are you doing?'"

But Davis thinks the Lakers, who are atop the Western Conference with a record of 49-14, are in a better place now to win a title than they were before the season was paused. 

"I think our chances are higher just because we’re all rested and we’re all ready to go," Davis said. "If anything, our chances got higher and it’s going to be about just who wants it more."

Before the break, Davis was leading the team in points (26.7) and rebounds (9.4), while James was leading the team -- and league -- in assists (10.6).

Davis said he never questioned whether he should participate in the bubble as some players around the league raised concerns that the NBA would distract from social justice issues, including Dwight Howard and Avery Bradley. Bradley eventually opted out of the restart on June 23 because of family reasons.

Davis thinks the bubble will give players a platform to amplify their voices. 

"I think the more people we have, the more minds we have, the more ideas and thoughts we can come up with to kind of change the world and change what’s going on," Davis said.