Sports Illustrated Cover Story: Under trying conditions in new surroundings, Anthony Davis formed an unbeatable alliance with LeBron, keeping the King accountable while proving to be the cheat code that propelled the Lakers to their 17th title. ⁣

⁣At the center of every conversation about why the Lakers are the defending NBA champions is Anthony Davis. The god who created Kevin Durant decided to get a little more imaginative for his masterpiece, a 6' 10" big man with the skills of a guard, the defensive instincts of a lioness protecting her cubs and the agility of Baryshnikov. As the league found out last season, if you want to win a championship, you need an answer for AD. “His ability and what he does on the floor, it doesn’t even seem like he’s trying at times,” says LeBron James, with a slight whisper of awe in his voice. “He’s just that damn talented. One game he had 40 and 20, and as teammates we couldn’t believe it. It seemed like he didn’t even sweat.”

 

Excerpt: Kobe Bryant picked up the phone and called Rob Pelinka. “Hey, you know I don’t give you GM advice, but if you ever get a chance to get this guy, he is the avatar of what you want. His level of footwork, his dexterity, his mastery of the details of the game. Guys like this are generational players.”⁣