After leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 132-122 victory over the Sacramento Kings, Anthony Davis shared his plans to celebrate LeBron James’ upcoming milestone 40th birthday. During his postgame press conference, Davis revealed he intends to gift his long-time teammate and friend a bottle of fine wine.
“Turning 40, huh? It is a big milestone. Probably getting a bottle of vino or something. Ooh, I got a nice one. Thank you for reminding me. Bad friend.”
The Lakers’ win improved their record to 18-13, placing them fifth in the Western Conference. Davis continued to display his dominance, finishing the game with a spectacular stat line of 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists on 12-of-16 shooting. His performance underscores his leadership as the Lakers navigate the season with LeBron James occasionally sidelined due to illness or rest.
Anthony Davis has been pivotal for the Lakers this season, averaging 26.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 52.7% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc. His ability to anchor both ends of the floor has been critical, particularly during games without LeBron, as evidenced by his dominant performance against the Kings.
Davis’ contributions were complemented by Austin Reaves, who recorded a double-double with 26 points and a career-high 16 assists. Rui Hachimura also stepped up, adding 21 points, while rookie Dalton Knecht chipped in 18 points off the bench.
The Sacramento Kings, playing under interim coach Doug Christie for the first time after Mike Brown’s firing, fell to 13-19 with the loss. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with an impressive 29 points, 12 assists, and 4 steals on 12-of-25 shooting. Malik Monk provided a scoring punch with 20 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan added 25 points on an efficient 12-of-17 from the field.
Domantas Sabonis struggled to find his rhythm against Davis’ stifling defense, finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists before fouling out late in the game. The Kings have now dropped six straight games, highlighting their ongoing struggles to find consistency.
LeBron James, who will turn 40 on December 30, continues to be the emotional and cultural leader for the Lakers. Even in his absence, the team draws inspiration from his example, as evidenced by their all-around performance against the Kings.
With LeBron’s milestone birthday around the corner, Davis’ thoughtful gift highlights the camaraderie and mutual respect within the Lakers. The team will now shift focus to their next matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 31, where they hope to build on their recent momentum and further solidify their standing in the Western Conference.
