Anthony Davis discusses physical toll and weight gain during Lakers tenure

Anthony Davis has discussed the physical challenges he faced during his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, specifically regarding the weight gain required to defend elite NBA centers. To better compete against players like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, Davis increased his weight from his usual 250–255 pounds to approximately 268 pounds.

Davis noted that the extra weight made him feel too heavy to play effectively. He revealed that he requested the Lakers acquire another big man to allow him to return to his preferred power forward position, but the request was not met. Instead, the Lakers traded Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal involving Luka Doncic.

After arriving in Dallas, Davis initially maintained a higher weight before trimming down during the season. Now playing for the Washington Wizards, Davis expressed optimism that playing alongside another legitimate big man will allow him to perform in a different capacity.