The Los Angeles Lakers are celebrating as Anthony Davis confirmed he’s ready to return for Thursday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after recovering from an unexpected eye injury.
This announcement is a big relief for fans and teammates, particularly LeBron James, who is relying on Davis to help extend the Lakers’ current winning streak.
Davis sustained the injury during the Lakers’ decisive 123-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. The incident occurred when he blocked a shot from Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl but was accidentally struck in the left eye. The impact sent him crashing to the floor, requiring assistance to leave the court and undergo an examination in the locker room. By Monday, Davis had visited an ophthalmologist as a precautionary measure, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Davis is reluctant to wear additional protection
On Tuesday, Davis confirmed he had been cleared to play, though he is still dealing with “a couple of scratches” on his eye. Despite the lingering irritation, the Lakers’ star forward is determined to return without any extra eye protection.
Regarding the matter, Davis stated he would only wear goggles if his doctor insisted it was necessary. “I wore goggles for three years when I was younger,” he explained. “I just don’t want to now, to be honest.”
This season, Davis has been phenomenal, averaging career-best numbers with 31.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, shooting nearly 58% from the field. His performance has been a key factor in the Lakers’ recent success, helping them achieve a 6-4 record.