Career Timeline of Anthony Davis: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Anthony Davis, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Anthony Davis is a highly accomplished American professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Primarily a power forward and center, he is a ten-time NBA All-Star, has earned five All-NBA Team selections, and five NBA All-Defensive Team selections. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and is considered among the greatest power forwards in basketball history.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1973: Davis Achieves Historic Performance

On October 26, Anthony Davis achieved a 50-point, 16-rebound, 7-steal, 5-assist, 4-block performance against the Denver Nuggets, marking the first instance of such statistics in NBA history since steals became an officially recorded statistic in the 1973–74 season.

1989: Jordan's Season Opener

On October 26, Anthony Davis had the most points by any NBA player in a season opener since Michael Jordan scored 54 points in 1989.

2002: Season Comeback

On February 26, 2023, Anthony Davis led the Lakers to a 111-108 come-from-behind victory over the Dallas Mavericks with 30 points and 15 rebounds. This comeback was the biggest of the season and the Lakers' biggest since 2002, demonstrating his leadership and impact on the team's performance.

2002: Pelicans Back-to-Back Scorer

On October 28, Anthony Davis became the first back-to-back-game 40-point scorer in Pelicans history (since the New Orleans Hornets creation in 2002).

2004: First American player since Emeka Okafor (2004) to compete in the Olympics without prior NBA experience

In 2004, Emeka Okafor competed in the Olympics without prior NBA experience

2007: All-NBA First Team Teammates

In 2020, Anthony Davis and LeBron James became the first teammates to be named first team All-NBA since 2007, showcasing their exceptional performance and contribution to the league.

August 13, 2010: Verbally committed to Kentucky

On August 13, 2010, Anthony Davis verbally committed to Kentucky, choosing it over DePaul, Ohio State and Syracuse.

August 2010: Played in the Nike Global Challenge

In August 2010, Anthony Davis played in the Nike Global Challenge in Hillsboro, Oregon, scoring 23 points and securing 9 rebounds in the opening game.

August 24, 2010: Rated number one player by Scout.com

On August 24, 2010, Anthony Davis became the number one rated player in the national class of 2011 at Scout.com.

November 10, 2010: Signed National Letter of Intent

On November 10, 2010, Anthony Davis signed his National Letter of Intent and began his senior season on the Chicago Sun-Times area Top 50 list.

2010: Rose All-NBA First Team

Anthony Davis was selected to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career, becoming the first player to make the first team in his first three seasons since Derrick Rose in the 2010-11 NBA season.

March 30, 2011: McDonald's All-American Game Performance

On March 30, 2011, in the McDonald's All-American Game, Anthony Davis had a 14-point, 6-rebound, 2-steal and 4-block performance.

November 11, 2011: Kentucky Freshman Debut

On November 11, 2011, Anthony Davis debuted with a double-double, including 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 assists against Marist.

November 15, 2011: Played against Thomas Robinson

On November 15, 2011, Anthony Davis played against Thomas Robinson, averaging a double-double and 6.5 blocks in the two games against him.

2011: Rated number one player in the class of 2011 by Scout.com

After three seasons of Chicago Public League play, Anthony Davis was rated as the number one player in the class of 2011 by Scout.com and was listed in the ESPNU 100.

2011: Notable Block Against North Carolina

During the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, one of the most notable plays for Anthony Davis was a block of John Henson with four seconds left to preserve a 73–72 victory when number one Kentucky hosted number five North Carolina on December 3, 2011.

2011: Described as versatile player

During the exhibition portion of the 2011-12 Wildcats season, coach Calipari described Anthony Davis as a versatile player who could shoot the 3, dribble the ball, and lead the break.

2011: Earned High School Honors

In 2011, Anthony Davis earned numerous honors for his basketball abilities in high school, including being named to the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. He was a first team USA Today All-USA high school basketball team selection and a first-team Parade All-American.

2011: Ranked as top player

In 2011, Anthony Davis secured the rank of number one player in the national class.

2011: USBWA National Freshman of the Year

In 2011, Anthony Davis was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Year and was selected by the USBWA as the Player of the Year for its 10-man 2011–12 Men's All-District IV Team.

2011: First Postseason Win Since 2011

In 2011, the Pelicans secured their first postseason win since 2011 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, with Anthony Davis contributing 35 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in the 97–95 victory. This win also marked the first postseason win of Davis's six-year career.

2011: Pelicans Playoff Berth

In the final game of the regular season, Anthony Davis led the Pelicans to a 108–103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on February 7, 2015, securing a playoff berth for the team. This marked Davis's first playoff appearance and the franchise's first since 2011.

April 2, 2012: Played against Thomas Robinson

On April 2, 2012, Anthony Davis played against Thomas Robinson, averaging a double-double and 6.5 blocks in the two games against him.

May 2, 2012: Named as finalist for 2012 Olympic basketball team

On May 2, 2012, Anthony Davis was named as one of the finalists for the 2012 Olympic basketball team following injuries to other players.

June 15, 2012: Signed with Arn Tellem and Thad Foucher of the Wasserman Media Group

On June 15, 2012, Anthony Davis signed with Arn Tellem and Thad Foucher of the Wasserman Media Group as his agents.

July 12, 2012: Selected for the 2012 Olympic team

On July 12, 2012, Anthony Davis was selected for the Olympic team after Blake Griffin suffered an injury, making him the only college player on the team.

July 24, 2012: Signed with the New Orleans Hornets

On July 24, 2012, Anthony Davis signed a three-year $16 million guaranteed contract with the New Orleans Hornets, as prescribed by the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.

November 1, 2012: NBA Debut Against the San Antonio Spurs

On November 1, 2012, Anthony Davis made his NBA debut against the San Antonio Spurs, scoring a team-high 21 points in a loss.

2012: Predicted to be first overall NBA draft pick

Before his college career even began, Anthony Davis was being mentioned as the first overall selection in the 2012 NBA draft.

2012: Won NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player

During the 2012 NCAA Tournament, Anthony Davis was selected to the NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team. He posted 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks against Louisville and won the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player.

2012: Won NCAA Championship with Kentucky

In 2012, Anthony Davis led Kentucky to a national championship and was named the most outstanding player of the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. That year he also won the USBWA National Freshman of the Year, NABC Defensive Player of the Year and the Pete Newell Big Man Award.

2012: Drafted into the NBA

In 2012, Anthony Davis was drafted as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets and was selected to play in the Olympics that summer.

2012: Named College Basketball Player of the Year

In 2012, Anthony Davis was named the Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year. He went on to win the USBWA's Robertson trophy, the Adolph Rupp Trophy, and was recognized by CBSSports.com as their national player of the year. He also won the Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year, the John R. Wooden Award, and the Naismith College Player of the Year.

2012: Named to All-American First Teams

In 2012, Anthony Davis was named to the 2012 Sporting News All-American first team. He also named first team All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, CBSSports.com, and the Associated Press, making him a unanimous first team All-American selection.

2012: Won Olympic Gold Medal

In 2012, Anthony Davis won a gold medal with the United States national team at the Olympics.

February 15, 2013: Rising Stars Challenge Appearance

On February 15, 2013, Anthony Davis participated in the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2013 NBA All-Star Game weekend.

October 16, 2013: Pelicans exercised third-year option on Davis's contract

On October 16, 2013, during the preseason of Anthony Davis's sophomore year for the 2013–14 New Orleans Pelicans, the Pelicans exercised the team's third-year option on his contract.

2013: Start of the 2013-14 NBA Season

Anthony Davis began the 2013–14 NBA season with the newly-renamed Pelicans.

March 16, 2014: Career High 40 Points and 21 Rebounds

On March 16, 2014, Anthony Davis scored a career-high 40 points along with a career-high 21 rebounds in a 121–120 overtime win against the Boston Celtics. It was the first 40-point, 20-rebound effort of the 2013–14 NBA season.

2014: Launched AD's Flight Academy

In 2014, Anthony Davis launched AD's Flight Academy, which holds charitable events in the Greater-New Orleans area.

2014: Member of the 2014 national team that won the gold medal in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup

In 2014, Anthony Davis was a member of the national team that won the gold medal in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup over Serbia on September 14.

2014: Won Gold Medal at the World Cup

In 2014, Anthony Davis won a gold medal with the United States national team at the World Cup.

July 9, 2015: Davis Signs Contract Extension

On July 9, 2015, Anthony Davis signed a five-year, $145 million contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans, securing his future with the team.

2015: Arn Tellem left to become an NBA executive

In 2015, Arn Tellem left Wasserman Media Group to become an NBA executive.

2016: Davis Named All-Star Reserve

On January 28, 2016, Anthony Davis was named as a reserve for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game.

February 19, 2017: Davis Wins All-Star MVP

On February 19, 2017, Anthony Davis scored 52 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the NBA All-Star Game, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star record and winning the game's Most Valuable Player award.

March 11, 2017: Davis Scores 46 Points

On March 11, 2017, Anthony Davis scored 46 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in a 125–122 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets.

March 31, 2017: Davis Reaches 2,000 Points

On March 31, 2017, Anthony Davis became the first player in Pelicans history to reach 2,000 points in a season during a game against the Sacramento Kings.

November 22, 2017: Davis Moves to Second in Franchise History

On November 22, 2017, Anthony Davis had 29 points and 11 rebounds in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. With this performance, he moved into second in franchise history with 7,938 career points, surpassing Chris Paul.

December 27, 2017: Davis Scores 33 Points

On December 27, 2017, Anthony Davis had 33 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

2017: Named NBA All-Star Game MVP

In 2017, Anthony Davis was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP after scoring a then-record 52 points in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.

2017: Davis Named All-Star Starter

On January 19, 2017, Anthony Davis was selected as a starter for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, marking his fourth selection and second as a starter.

January 14, 2018: Davis Scores Season-High 48 Points

On January 14, 2018, Anthony Davis scored a season-high 48 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, leading New Orleans back from 19 points down to an overtime victory over the New York Knicks.

February 2018: Davis Named Player of the Month

Anthony Davis earned the NBA Western Conference Player of the Month award for February 2018 due to his outstanding performance throughout the month.

2018: Signed with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group

In 2018, Anthony Davis signed with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.

January 2, 2019: Career-High and Franchise-Record Rebounds

On January 2, 2019, Anthony Davis posted a career-high and franchise-record 26 rebounds along with 34 points against the Brooklyn Nets, marking a significant achievement in his career.

July 2019: Trade to the Los Angeles Lakers

In July 2019, Anthony Davis was traded from the Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round draft picks, marking a significant change in his career.

October 22, 2019: Lakers Debut

On October 22, 2019, Anthony Davis made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Los Angeles Clippers, recording 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in 37 minutes during the 112–102 loss.

2019: Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers

In 2019, Anthony Davis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, marking a significant shift in his NBA career.

January 3, 2020: Davis Scores 46 Points Against Pelicans

On January 3, 2020, Anthony Davis scored 46 points and had 13 rebounds in a 123-113 win over his former team, the Pelicans, showcasing a strong performance against his previous team.

January 2020: Declines Lakers' Contract Extension

In January 2020, Anthony Davis declined the Lakers' offer of a four-year, $146 million max contract extension, choosing instead to enter free agency, where he could potentially earn a five-year, $202 million max contract, impacting his long-term career and financial prospects.

December 3, 2020: Re-signs with Lakers

On December 3, 2020, Anthony Davis re-signed with the Lakers on a five-year, $190 million contract, which included an early termination option prior to the fifth season in 2024–25, securing his future with the team.

2020: Won NBA Championship with the Lakers

In 2020, Anthony Davis won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, achieving a major career milestone.

2020: Trade Request and Public Announcement

In January 2020, Anthony Davis informed the Pelicans that he would not sign a contract extension and requested a trade, making him eligible to become a free agent in the summer of 2020. His public trade request led to a $50,000 fine from the NBA. He later played a game for the Pelicans in February after the trade deadline passed.

2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Anthony Davis was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, solidifying his place among the league's greats.

June 19, 2022: Signed with FaZe Clan

On June 19, 2022, Anthony Davis signed with FaZe Clan, joining Faze Clan's Nuke Squad for Call of Duty.

August 4, 2023: Three-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers

On August 4, 2023, Anthony Davis signed a three-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.

December 10, 2023: Won the inaugural NBA Cup with the Lakers

On December 10, 2023, Anthony Davis and the Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup after winning the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament, with Davis scoring 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks against the Indiana Pacers in the championship game and being named to the All-Tournament team.

2023: 50 Blocks in a Single Postseason

During the 2023 playoffs, Anthony Davis became the third Lakers player with 50 blocks in a single postseason, placing him among Lakers legends like Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

2023: Won the first NBA Cup

In 2023, Anthony Davis won the first edition of the NBA Cup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

January 9, 2024: Season-high 41 points against the Toronto Raptors

On January 9, 2024, Anthony Davis scored a season-high 41 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, along with 11 rebounds and 6 assists in a 132–131 win over the Toronto Raptors.

April 15, 2024: Named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic team

On April 15, 2024, Anthony Davis was named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, returning to the national team after a 10-year gap.

2024: Reserve for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, third career triple-double, 40 points against the Washington Wizards, 27 points and 25 rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Eye Contusion, 34 points and 23 rebounds against the Milwaukee Bucks.

In 2024, Anthony Davis was named as reserve for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, put up his third career triple-double, posted 40 points against the Washington Wizards, logged 27 points and 25 rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves, suffered an eye contusion, and recorded 34 points and 23 rebounds against the Milwaukee Bucks.

2024: Won Olympic Gold Medal

In 2024, Anthony Davis won a gold medal with the United States national team at the Olympics.

January 27, 2025: 42 point, 23 rebound win against the Charlotte Hornets

On January 27, 2025, Anthony Davis opened the game against the Charlotte Hornets with 21 points and 11 rebounds in the first quarter, on his way to a 42 point, 23 rebound win.

February 2, 2025: Traded to the Dallas Mavericks

On February 2, 2025, Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris.

February 2025: Traded to the Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić

In February 2025, Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić, in what was regarded as one of the most unexpected trades in American sports history.