Anthony Davis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Anthony Davis

Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022
No. 3 – Los Angeles Lakers
Center / power forward
Personal information
Born	(1993-03-11) March 11, 1993 (age 32) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
High school	Perspectives Charter (Chicago, Illinois)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	253 lb (115 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky (2011–2012)
NBA Draft	2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the New Orleans Hornets
Pro career	2012–present
League	NBA
Career history
2012–2019	New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans
2019–present	Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2020) NBA Cup champion (2023) 9× NBA All-Star (2014–2021, 2024) NBA All-Star Game MVP (2017) 4× All-NBA First Team (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020) All-NBA Second Team (2024) 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2018, 2020, 2024) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2015, 2017) 3× NBA blocks leader (2014, 2015, 2018) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2013) NBA 75th Anniversary Team NCAA champion (2012) NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2012) National college player of the year (2012) Consensus first-team All-American (2012) NABC Defensive Player of the Year (2012) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2012) SEC Male Athlete of the Year (2012) SEC Player of the Year (2012) NCAA blocks leader (2012) SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2012) SEC Rookie of the Year (2012) First-team Parade All-American (2011) McDonald's All-American (2011)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2012 London Team Gold 2024 Paris Team World Cup Gold 2014 Spain Team

Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. (born March 11, 1993), often called "AD", is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the Lakers, he played for the New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony Davis is known for playing both power forward and center.

He has been an NBA All-Star nine times and has been chosen for the All-NBA First Team four times. He also made the NBA All-Defensive Team five times because of his amazing defense. In his first season with the Lakers, he helped them win the 2020 NBA Finals. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, which honors the greatest players in NBA history. He also won the first-ever NBA Cup with the Lakers in 2023. Many people think Davis is one of the best power forwards ever.

Davis played one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. During that time, he was named a first team All-American and the Consensus National Player of the Year. He also won several other awards, including the USBWA National Freshman of the Year and NABC Defensive Player of the Year. Davis was the best shot-blocker in college basketball and set new records for blocks. He led Kentucky to a national championship and was named the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

After one college season, Davis entered the NBA draft. He was the first player picked in the 2012 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. That same summer, he was chosen to play in the 2012 Olympics. After his first year in the NBA, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. The next season, he became an All-Star and led the NBA in blocked shots per game. In 2017, he set an All-Star Game scoring record with 52 points and won the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award. Davis was traded to the Lakers in 2019. He has won gold medals with the U.S. national team at the 2012 Olympics, the 2014 World Cup, and the 2024 Olympics. He is the first player to win an NCAA national championship, a FIBA World Cup, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal, which is like a "Grand Slam" in basketball. He is also one of only eight players to achieve the basketball Triple Crown.

High School Basketball Journey

Anthony Davis was born in Chicago and grew up in the Englewood neighborhood. He played high school basketball for Perspectives Charter School, which he attended since sixth grade. His school didn't have its own gym, so his middle school teams practiced at a nearby church. When he was younger, he was known for shooting three-pointers. He started high school at 6 feet tall and grew to 6 feet 4 inches by the end of his sophomore year.

By his junior year, Davis was 6 feet 8 inches tall. Even though his family thought about moving him to a bigger basketball school in Chicago, his coach told them that if he was good enough, scouts would find him anywhere. Perspectives finished that season with an 8–15 record.

Even though he wasn't well-known at first, things changed when he started playing for an AAU team called Meanstreets. Soon, he was ranked as the number one player in his high school class by Scout.com and ESPN. He committed to play college basketball at Kentucky on August 13, 2010.

By his senior year, Davis was 6 feet 10 inches tall. His team's game against Whitney M. Young Magnet High School was even shown on national TV. He averaged 32 points, 22 rebounds, and 7 blocks per game that season.

Davis at the Jordan Brand Classic in April 2011

In high school, Davis received many awards. He was chosen for the 2011 McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. He was also named a first-team All-American by USA Today and Parade magazine. In the McDonald's All-American Game, he scored 14 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots. He was also named co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic game, scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

College Basketball Career

Davis played at Kentucky for head coach John Calipari.

Anthony Davis chose to play for the Kentucky Wildcats, coached by John Calipari. Even before he started college, people were already talking about him as a potential top pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Coach Calipari described Davis as a player who was 6 feet 10 inches tall with a huge wingspan, who could shoot, dribble, and lead the team.

Davis quickly became one of the best players in college basketball. He was considered a top candidate for National Player of the Year. He led the Wildcats to a perfect 16–0 record in their conference and won the SEC regular season championship. Overall, he averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game, shooting 62.3% from the field.

The Wildcats were the top team in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Davis led them to their eighth NCAA championship. In the six tournament games, he averaged 15.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

College Honors and Awards

Davis won many national awards in college, including:

• Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year
• USBWA's Robertson Trophy
• Adolph Rupp Trophy
• Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year (he was only the second freshman to win this)
• John R. Wooden Award
• Naismith College Player of the Year (Kentucky's first winner)

He was also named a first-team All-American by several groups, including Sporting News, the US Basketball Writers Association, and the Associated Press. He was chosen for the NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team and the NCAA All-Tournament team. He was the fourth freshman ever to win the Most Outstanding Player award in the NCAA Tournament.

Davis was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Year. He also won the Pete Newell Big Man Award and the NABC Defensive Player of the Year.

For his conference, the SEC, Davis was named:

• SEC Player of the Year
• SEC Freshman of the Year
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year
• First team All-SEC

College Records

Davis set several records during his college career:

• He blocked more shots per game than most college teams!
• He set the Kentucky record for single-season blocked shots (186).
• He set the SEC freshman record for blocks.
• He tied the NCAA Championship game record for blocks (6).
• He also set Kentucky freshman records for double-doubles (20) and rebounds (415).

Professional Career

New Orleans Hornets / Pelicans (2012–2019)

Rookie Year (2012–2013)

After one season in college, Anthony Davis entered the 2012 NBA draft. The New Orleans Hornets picked him as the first overall player. He was the fifth player from the Chicago area to be picked first overall. On July 24, 2012, Davis signed his first NBA contract.

Davis in his first season as a Hornet

Davis made his NBA debut on November 1, 2012, scoring 21 points. Soon after, he got his first "double-double" (meaning he had double-digit points and rebounds) with 23 points and 11 rebounds, plus 5 blocks. He also set a career high with 18 rebounds in a game. Unfortunately, he had some injuries during his rookie year, including a concussion and an ankle sprain.

Despite the injuries, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished second in the voting for NBA Rookie of the Year. He had the most double-doubles among all rookies.

After his rookie season, the New Orleans Hornets changed their name to the Pelicans.

Becoming an All-Star (2013–2014)

Davis started his second season strong with two double-doubles. He became the youngest player in his team's history to have 25 points and 15 rebounds in a game. In one game, he had 6 blocks and 6 steals, which is very rare. He also scored a career-high 32 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the youngest player ever to have at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in an NBA game.

Davis shoots a free throw on January 1, 2014.

He continued to impress, setting a new career high with 8 blocks in a game. However, he broke his left hand in December, which kept him out for several weeks. When he returned, he kept playing at a high level. On February 7, he was chosen to replace Kobe Bryant in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, making it his first All-Star selection.

Davis in 2014

On March 16, 2014, Davis had an amazing game, scoring a career-high 40 points and grabbing a career-high 21 rebounds in an overtime win. He was the fourth-youngest player ever to achieve 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game. He finished the season as the NBA leader in blocked shots per game (2.82).

First Playoff Appearance (2014–2015)

Davis started the 2014–15 NBA season with one of the best opening performances ever: 26 points, 17 rebounds, 9 blocks, and 3 steals. He continued to have incredible games, including a career-high 43 points and 14 rebounds against the Utah Jazz. He also hit a game-winning three-point shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder, even though he wasn't known for his three-point shooting.

On February 7, 2015, Davis injured his shoulder and had to miss the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. When he returned, he had a dominant game with 39 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 blocks. He also set a franchise record for career blocks.

In the last game of the regular season, Davis had 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks to help the Pelicans make the 2015 NBA playoffs for the first time since 2011. He finished the season averaging 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks.

In his first playoff series, Davis averaged 31.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. Even though the Pelicans lost to the Golden State Warriors, Davis joined a small group of legendary players to average 30 points and 10 rebounds in their first playoff series. He was also selected to the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive Team Second Team.

Injuries and Records (2015–2016)

On July 9, 2015, Davis signed a big five-year contract extension with the Pelicans. He continued to put up big numbers, tying his career high of 43 points and setting a new career high of 9 blocked shots in different games.

Davis during his 59-point, 20-rebound performance against the Detroit Pistons on February 21, 2016. His 59 points set a new franchise record.

On February 21, 2016, Davis had an incredible game against the Detroit Pistons, scoring a franchise-record 59 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. He became the youngest player in NBA history to score 59 points in a game. He was also only the third player since 1983 to have 50 points and 20 rebounds in a game. However, his season ended early in March due to a left knee injury and a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

All-Star MVP (2016–2017)

Davis started the 2016–17 NBA season with another huge game: 50 points, 16 rebounds, 7 steals (a career high), 5 assists, and 4 blocks. This was the first time in NBA history that a player had 50 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals in a game. Two days later, he scored 45 points and 17 rebounds, becoming the first Pelicans player to score 40 points in back-to-back games.

On February 19, 2017, Davis played in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game in his home city of New Orleans. He scored an amazing 52 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star Game scoring record. He also won the game's Most Valuable Player award. After the season, he was named to the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

Another Playoff Run (2017–2018)

Davis continued to lead the Pelicans, setting new franchise records. On November 22, 2017, he passed Chris Paul to become second in franchise history for career points. On January 28, he passed David West to become the franchise's all-time leader in rebounds. Just a few days later, on February 2, he passed West again to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

On February 26, he scored a season-high 53 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 blocks against the Phoenix Suns. On his 25th birthday, March 11, Davis recorded his first career "triple-double" (double digits in three stats) with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 10 blocks. His 10 blocks set a new franchise record for a single game.

In the first round of the playoffs, Davis led the Pelicans to a sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers. In Game 4, he scored a franchise playoff-record 47 points. The Pelicans then lost to the Golden State Warriors in the second round. At the end of the season, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team and his third All-NBA First Team.

Trade Request (2018–2019)

Davis started the 2018–19 season strong, with 32 points, 16 rebounds, and a career-high 8 assists in the first game. He had his fifth career 20-point, 20-rebound game in November. On November 21, he reached 10,000 career points, becoming one of the youngest players to do so. He also achieved a "five-by-five" (double digits in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) in that game.

On January 28, 2019, Davis told the Pelicans that he wanted to be traded to another team. He was fined by the NBA for making his request public. After the trade deadline passed without a trade, the team decided he would play for the rest of the season.

Los Angeles Lakers (2019–present)

Winning an NBA Championship (2019–2020)

In July 2019, the Pelicans traded Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. He made his Lakers debut on October 22, 2019. On October 29, he became the first Laker since Shaquille O'Neal in 2003 to have a 40-point and 20-rebound game. He did this in only 30 minutes, which was an NBA record!

On November 27, Davis returned to New Orleans to play against his former team, scoring 41 points. This set an NBA record for the most points scored by a player in their first game against a former team. On December 8, Davis scored a season-high 50 points. He was selected as a starter for the NBA All-Star Game.

In January 2020, Davis decided he would become a free agent after the season, meaning he could sign with any team. However, he later re-signed with the Lakers. He was a key player for the Lakers, leading the team in rebounds, blocks, and steals. He finished second in voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

In the Western Conference finals, Davis hit a game-winning three-pointer against the Denver Nuggets. He and LeBron James led the Lakers to a 4–2 victory over the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals, winning the franchise's 17th championship. Davis became the first player to win an NCAA title, an Olympic gold medal, a FIBA World Cup, and an NBA title – the "Grand Slam" of basketball.

Dealing with Injuries (2020–2022)

On December 3, 2020, Davis signed a new five-year contract with the Lakers. However, the next two seasons were tough for him due to injuries. In the 2020–21 season, he missed 30 games because of calf and heel problems. In the playoffs, he suffered a groin strain and the Lakers were eliminated.

In the 2021–22 season, Davis missed more games due to a knee sprain and an ankle injury. He played in only 40 games, and the Lakers missed the playoffs.

Return to Form and Western Conference Finals (2022–2023)

Davis returned strong in the 2022–23 season. On November 13, 2022, he scored 37 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. He had a fantastic stretch of games, including a season-high 55 points and 17 rebounds against the Washington Wizards. He became only the second player in NBA history to have at least 55 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a game since blocks became an official stat.

On January 25, 2023, Davis returned after missing 20 games with a foot injury. He helped the Lakers make a big comeback against the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 30 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. He also had a game with 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Golden State Warriors.

In the playoffs, Davis continued his strong play. In Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies, he had a playoff career-high 7 blocks. In Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, he posted 30 points, a playoff career-high 23 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks. He joined Tim Duncan as the only players in NBA history to have such a stat line in a playoff game. The Lakers made it to the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Denver Nuggets.

NBA Cup Champion (2023–present)

On August 4, 2023, Davis signed another contract extension with the Lakers. On December 10, 2023, Davis helped the Lakers win the first-ever 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament. In the championship game, he scored 41 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and had 5 assists and 4 blocks. He was named to the All-Tournament team.

On January 9, 2024, he scored a season-high 41 points against the Toronto Raptors. On February 1, he was named an NBA All-Star for the ninth time. On March 10, Davis had an incredible game with 27 points, a season-high 25 rebounds, a career-high 7 steals, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. He became the first player in NBA history to record 25+ points, 25+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals in a single game!

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2012–13	New Orleans	64	60	28.8	.516	.000	.751	8.2	1.0	1.2	1.8	13.5
2013–14	New Orleans	67	66	35.2	.519	.222	.791	10.0	1.6	1.3	2.8*	20.8
2014–15	New Orleans	68	68	36.1	.535	.083	.805	10.2	2.2	1.5	2.9*	24.4
2015–16	New Orleans	61	61	35.5	.493	.324	.758	10.3	1.9	1.3	2.0	24.3
2016–17	New Orleans	75	75	36.1	.505	.299	.802	11.8	2.1	1.3	2.2	28.0
2017–18	New Orleans	75	75	36.4	.534	.340	.828	11.1	2.3	1.5	2.6*	28.1
2018–19	New Orleans	56	56	33.0	.517	.331	.794	12.0	3.9	1.6	2.4	25.9
2019–20	L.A. Lakers	62	62	34.4	.503	.330	.846	9.3	3.2	1.5	2.3	26.1
2020–21	L.A. Lakers	36	36	32.3	.491	.260	.738	7.9	3.1	1.3	1.6	21.8
2021–22	L.A. Lakers	40	40	35.1	.532	.186	.713	9.9	3.1	1.2	2.3	23.2
2022–23	L.A. Lakers	56	54	34.0	.563	.257	.784	12.5	2.6	1.1	2.0	25.9
2023–24	L.A. Lakers	76	76	35.5	.556	.271	.816	12.6	3.5	1.2	2.3	24.7
Career		736	729	34.5	.523	.297	.795	10.6	2.5	1.3	2.3	24.1
All-Star		7	3	17.3	.700	.143	.500	5.3	1.4	1.1	.6	18.4

NBA Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2015	New Orleans	4	4	42.9	.540	.000	.889	11.0	2.0	1.3	3.0	31.5
2018	New Orleans	9	9	39.8	.520	.273	.828	13.4	1.7	2.0	2.4	30.1
2020	L.A. Lakers	21	21	36.6	.571	.383	.832	9.7	3.5	1.2	1.4	27.7
2021	L.A. Lakers	5	5	28.8	.403	.182	.833	6.6	2.6	.6	1.6	17.4
2023	L.A. Lakers	16	16	38.0	.520	.333	.852	14.1	2.6	1.4	3.1	22.6
2024	L.A. Lakers	5	5	41.6	.634	.000	.808	15.6	4.0	.4	1.6	27.8
Career		60	60	37.6	.542	.313	.840	11.8	2.8	1.3	2.2	26.1

College Statistics

National Team Career

Davis with the 2012 U.S. Olympic team

Davis fields a question from Matt Winer at the 2014 World Basketball Festival with Team USA.

On May 2, 2012, Anthony Davis was named as a finalist for the 2012 United States men's Olympic basketball team. He was chosen for the team on July 12, 2012, making him the only college player on the team. The U.S. team went undefeated in London and won the gold medal against Spain.

Davis was also part of the 2014 national team that won the gold medal in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He averaged 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in that tournament. On April 15, 2024, Davis was named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, returning to the national team after 10 years. He helped Team USA win another gold medal.

Personal Life

Anthony Davis is the son of Anthony Davis Sr. and Erainer. His father is 6 feet 3 inches tall, and his mother is 6 feet 1 inch tall. He has a twin sister, Antoinette, and an older sister, Lesha, who also played basketball.

Davis married Marlen Polanco on September 18, 2021, and they have three children together.

In June 2012, Davis famously trademarked his "unibrow" sayings like "Fear The Brow" and "Raise The Brow." In 2014, he started AD's Flight Academy, which organizes charity events in the New Orleans area.

Filmography

Film

Television

See Also

In Spanish: Anthony Davis (baloncestista) para niños

• List of National Basketball Association franchise career scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders
• List of National Basketball Association single-game blocks leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders

Images for kids

• 

  Davis as a Wildcat

• 

  Davis shoots over Mike Scott of the Washington Wizards on December 19, 2017.