History of Anthony Davis in Timeline
Anthony Davis Jr., also known as "AD", is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is considered one of the best power forwards of all time, with accolades including nine NBA All-Star selections, four All-NBA First Team selections, and four NBA All-Defensive Team selections. He has won an NBA Championship with the Lakers in 2020, was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, and won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023.
1966: Fifth Chicago-Area First Overall Selection
Anthony Davis became the fifth Chicago-area first overall selection following Cazzie Russell (1966).
1972: Fifth Chicago-Area First Overall Selection
Anthony Davis became the fifth Chicago-area first overall selection following LaRue Martin (1972).
1973: First 50-Point, 15-Rebound, 5-Assist, 5 Steal Performance Since 1973
Anthony Davis achieved the first 50-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist, 5-steal performance in NBA history since steals became an officially recorded statistic in the 1973–74 season.
1973: Historic Game Performance
In 1973, Anthony Davis became the first player in NBA history to record 36 points, 14 rebounds, 9 blocks, and 7 assists in a game since blocks became an official statistic.
1981: Fifth Chicago-Area First Overall Selection
Anthony Davis became the fifth Chicago-area first overall selection following Mark Aguirre (1981).
1983: Players with 50 Points and 20 Rebounds Since 1983
Since 1983, only Shaquille O'Neal and Chris Webber had achieved 50 points and 20 rebounds in a game, before Anthony Davis accomplished the feat.
1989: Highest Scoring Output in a Season Opener Since 1989
Anthony Davis's 50-point game was the most by any NBA player in a season opener since Michael Jordan scored 54 points in 1989.
March 11, 1993: Anthony Davis is born
On March 11, 1993, Anthony Marshon Davis Jr., nicknamed "AD", was born. He would go on to become an American professional basketball player in the NBA.
1993: Youngest Player to Achieve 40/20 Since Shaq
Anthony Davis's 40-point and 20-rebound game on March 16, 2014, made him the youngest player to achieve this feat since Shaquille O'Neal in 1993.
2002: First Back-to-Back 40-point scorer in Pelicans history
Anthony Davis was the first back-to-back-game 40-point scorer in Pelicans history (since the New Orleans Hornets creation in 2002).
2006: NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game Record
In 2006, Anthony Davis tied the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game record for blocks established by Joakim Noah in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
2008: Fifth Chicago-Area First Overall Selection
Anthony Davis became the fifth Chicago-area first overall selection following Derrick Rose (2008).
February 26, 2010: First 40-Point Performance Since David West
Davis's 40-point performance on March 16, 2014, marked the first 40-point performance by a Pelican/Hornet since David West on February 26, 2010.
August 4, 2010: Bribery Allegations Surface Regarding Davis' Commitment to Kentucky
On August 4, 2010, the Chicago Sun-Times published, and later retracted, a story that alleged Anthony Davis' father requested $200,000 from the University of Kentucky in exchange for a commitment from Davis.
August 13, 2010: Davis Commits to University of Kentucky
On August 13, 2010, Anthony Davis verbally committed to play basketball for the University of Kentucky over other schools.
August 2010: Davis Plays in Nike Global Challenge
In August of 2010, Anthony Davis played in the Nike Global Challenge in Hillsboro, Oregon, where he scored 23 points and had 9 rebounds in the opening game.
August 24, 2010: Davis Becomes Top Rated Player in his Class
On August 24, 2010, Anthony Davis became the number one rated player in the national class of 2011 at Scout.com
November 10, 2010: Davis Signs Letter of Intent for University of Kentucky
On November 10, 2010, Anthony Davis signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the University of Kentucky.
2010: All-NBA First Team Selection
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 did so in the 2010–11 NBA season.
2010: NCAA Division I Freshman Record for Blocked Shots
On March 25, 2010, Anthony Davis established the SEC single-season blocked shots record in the NCAA Tournament South Regional Championship game victory over Baylor, surpassing Jarvis Varnado's total of 169. On March 31, he tied DeMarcus Cousins with 20 double-doubles for the Kentucky freshman-season record. He also surpassed Cousins' Kentucky freshman rebounds record of 374 with 415 rebounds. With six blocks in the championship game, he achieved a total of 186 for the season, surpassing Hassan Whiteside's 2010 total of 182, to set an NCAA Division I freshman record.
March 30, 2011: McDonald's All-American Game Performance
On March 30, 2011, Anthony Davis had a standout performance in the McDonald's All-American Game at the United Center. He scored 14 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, had 2 steals, and blocked 4 shots.
November 11, 2011: Debut with a Double-Double
On November 11, 2011, Anthony Davis made his debut with a double-double, including 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 assists against Marist, earning his first SEC Freshman of the Week honor.
November 14, 2011: SEC Freshman of the Week
On November 14, 2011, Anthony Davis earned his first SEC Freshman of the Week honor.
November 15, 2011: First Game Against Thomas Robinson
On November 15, 2011, Anthony Davis faced off against Thomas Robinson, another top player who would become his main competitor for National Player of the Year. Davis had a strong showing in this first matchup.
2011: First Playoff Berth
Anthony Davis helped the Pelicans secure their first playoff berth since 2011.
2011: Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Honors
During his freshman year in 2011, Anthony Davis garnered multiple accolades, including USBWA National Freshman of the Year, Pete Newell Big Man Award, NABC Defensive Player of the Year, CollegeInsider.com Lefty Driesell Award (Defensive Player of the Year), and the Kyle Macy Award (Freshman of the Year).
2011: Dominating the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Season
During the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Anthony Davis blocked more shots per game than most Division I men's teams.
2011: Davis Becomes the Top Rated Player in his Class
In 2011, Anthony Davis became the number one rated player in his class according to Scout.com
2011: Commitment to Kentucky and Preseason Recognition
In 2011, Anthony Davis committed to the Kentucky Wildcats. He received preseason recognition as an All-American and was considered a top freshman prospect.
2011: Davis Earns High School Basketball Honors
In 2011, Anthony Davis was named to the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, as well as being selected as a first-team All American by numerous publications.
2011: Davis is the Number One Rated Player in his Class
Anthony Davis entered 2011 as the number one rated player in his class.
January 16, 2012: SEC Freshman of the Week
On January 16, 2012, Anthony Davis earned his third SEC Freshman of the Week honor.
February 1, 2012: SEC Freshman of the Week
On February 1, 2012, Anthony Davis earned his second SEC Freshman of the Week honor.
April 2, 2012: Second Game Against Thomas Robinson and SEC Championship Run
On April 2, 2012, Anthony Davis played against Thomas Robinson for the second time, again showcasing his skills. Davis led the Kentucky Wildcats to a perfect 16-0 record in conference play, securing the SEC regular-season championship.
May 2, 2012: Davis Named Finalist for 2012 Olympic Basketball Team
On May 2, 2012, Anthony Davis was named one of the finalists for the 2012 US Olympic Basketball Team. This recognition came after a series of injuries to players initially included in the 20-man roster.
May 3, 2012: SEC Freshman of the Week
On May 3, 2012, Anthony Davis earned his fourth SEC Freshman of the Week honor.
June 15, 2012: Anthony Davis Signs with Wasserman Media Group
On June 15, 2012, Anthony Davis signed with Arn Tellem and Thad Foucher of the Wasserman Media Group as his agents.
June 2012: Anthony Davis Trademarks Unibrow Sayings
In June 2012, Anthony Davis trademarked his unibrow sayings "Fear The Brow", "Raise The Brow", and "Street Clothes Davis".
July 12, 2012: Davis Selected for Olympic Team
On July 12, 2012, Anthony Davis was selected for the US Olympic Basketball Team after Blake Griffin sustained a knee injury. Davis's inclusion on the team made him the only amateur player participating in the London Olympics.
July 24, 2012: Signing 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
On November 1, 2012, Anthony Davis made his debut against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored a team high 21 in a losing effort.
December 11, 2012: Return to Play After Ankle Injury
On December 11, 2012, Anthony Davis was cleared to play after missing 11 games due to a stress reaction on his ankle.
2012: Pre-College Career Hype and Comparisons
In 2012, before his college career began, Anthony Davis was already being touted as a potential first overall pick in the NBA draft and was drawing comparisons to Marcus Camby due to his shot-blocking abilities.
2012: National Player of the Year Awards
Throughout 2012, Anthony Davis received numerous awards recognizing him as the top player in college basketball, including the Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, the USBWA's Robertson Trophy, the Adolph Rupp Trophy, and the Naismith College Player of the Year.
2012: Davis Matches Roy Hibbert's Block Record
In the 2013-14 season, Davis achieved two 8-block games in the Pelicans' first 11 games, matching Roy Hibbert's number of 8-block games in the entire 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons combined.
2012: SEC Awards and Honors
In 2012, Anthony Davis was selected as the SEC Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-SEC honoree.
2012: NCAA Tournament Success and Most Outstanding Player Award
In 2012, Anthony Davis helped lead the Kentucky Wildcats to the NCAA Championship, earning a spot on the NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team and the NCAA Tournament All-Tournament Team. He was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
2012: Unanimous First Team All-American Selection
In 2012, Anthony Davis achieved unanimous first team All-American status, receiving recognition from various organizations, including Sporting News, the USBWA, the NABC, CBSSports.com, and the Associated Press.
2012: Davis Leads Kentucky to NCAA Championship
During his sole year playing college basketball in 2012, Anthony Davis lead the Kentucky Wildcats to an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship and was named the tournament's most outstanding player.
2012: Davis is Drafted into the NBA
Anthony Davis was drafted as the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets. He also played in the 2012 Olympics that summer.
2012: Hornets Become Pelicans and Davis Makes Donation
After the 2012–13 season, the Hornets renamed themselves the Pelicans. Anthony Davis donated $65,000 to his alma mater, Perspectives, for the construction of a basketball court.
February 15, 2013: Rising Stars Challenge
On February 15, 2013, Anthony Davis participated in the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2013 NBA All-Star Game weekend.
March 2013: Back-to-Back 40-Point Games
Davis became the first Laker with back-to-back 40-point games since Kobe Bryant in March 2013.
October 16, 2013: Pelicans Exercise Third-Year Option
On October 16, 2013, the New Orleans Pelicans exercised their third-year option on Anthony Davis's contract.
2013: Davis Starts Season Strong, Suffers Hand Injury
Anthony Davis began the 2013–14 NBA season with several impressive performances, including a career-high 32 points and 6 blocks against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 8th. He suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left hand on December 1st against the New York Knicks.
2013: Not Selected for All-Star Game
For the first time since 2013, Davis was not selected for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
2013: Davis Returns From Injury, Continues Strong Season
After returning from a hand injury, Anthony Davis continued his strong performance in the 2013-14 season. He was selected as a Rising Stars Challenge participant and replaced Kobe Bryant in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.
March 16, 2014: Career High 40 Points and 21 Rebounds
On March 16, 2014, Anthony Davis achieved a career-high 40 points and 21 rebounds in a 121–120 overtime win against the Boston Celtics. This was the first 40-point, 20-rebound performance of the 2013–14 NBA season. At 21 years and 5 days old, he became the fourth-youngest player to achieve this feat.
April 16, 2014: Youngest NBA Leading Shot Blocker
On April 16, 2014, at 21 years and 36 days old, Anthony Davis became the youngest NBA leading shot blocker.
December 12, 2014: High Player Efficiency Rating
On December 12, 2014, Anthony Davis entered a game with a player efficiency rating (PER) of 32.9, which would have been the highest in NBA history if maintained for the full season.
2014: Anthony Davis Launches AD's Flight Academy
In 2014, Anthony Davis launched AD's Flight Academy, which holds charitable events in the Greater-New Orleans area.
2014: Anthony Davis Wins Gold with Team USA at 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. He averaged 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in 9 games played, while shooting 54.9% from the field.
2014: Davis Wins FIBA World Cup
In 2014, Anthony Davis was part of the United States team that won the FIBA World Cup, becoming the first player to win an NCAA title, NBA title, Olympic gold medal, and FIBA World Cup.
February 7, 2015: Shoulder Injury and All-Star Game Withdrawal
On February 7, 2015, Anthony Davis injured his shoulder and withdrew from the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.
July 9, 2015: Contract Extension with the Pelicans
On July 9, 2015, Anthony Davis signed a five-year, $145 million contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans.
2015: Arn Tellem Departs Wasserman Media Group
Tellem left Wasserman Media Group to become an NBA executive in 2015.
2016: NBA All-Star Game Selection
In 2016, Anthony Davis was selected as a reserve for the NBA All-Star Game.
February 19, 2017: NBA All-Star Game MVP and Record Breaker
On February 19, 2017, playing in the NBA All-Star Game, Anthony Davis scored 52 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star game record of 42 points, and won the game's Most Valuable Player award.
March 11, 2017: 46 Points and 21 Rebounds vs Charlotte Hornets
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: 2,000 Points in a Season Milestone
On March 31, 2017, Anthony Davis became the first player in Pelicans history to reach 2,000 points in a season.
November 22, 2017: Second in Franchise History in Points
On November 22, 2017, Anthony Davis finished the game with 7,938 career points, moving him into second in franchise history ahead of Chris Paul (7,936).
December 27, 2017: 33 Points, 11 Rebounds, and 6 Blocks vs Brooklyn Nets
On December 27, 2017, Anthony Davis had 33 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in a 128–113 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
2017: Davis Wins NBA All-Star Game MVP
In 2017, Anthony Davis won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award after scoring a record 52 points.
2017: NBA All-Star Game Starter
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: 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 late in the third quarter to a 123–118 overtime victory over the New York Knicks.
February 2018: NBA Player of the Month
Anthony Davis was named NBA Player of the Month for February 2018.
2018: Anthony Davis Signs with Klutch Sports Group
In 2018, Davis signed with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.
January 2, 2019: Career-High Rebounds
On January 2, 2019, Anthony Davis posted a career-high and franchise-record 26 rebounds along with 34 points against the Brooklyn Nets.
July 2019: Traded to the Lakers
In July 2019, the Pelicans traded Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers.
October 22, 2019: Lakers Debut
On October 22, 2019, Anthony Davis made his Lakers debut against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in 37 minutes.
2019: Davis is traded to the Lakers
In 2019, Anthony Davis was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers.
January 3, 2020: 46 Points Against Pelicans
On January 3, 2020, Davis had 46 points and 13 rebounds in a 123–113 win over the Pelicans.
January 2020: Declines Lakers Extension, Enters Free Agency
In January 2020, Davis declined the Lakers' offer of a four-year, $146 million max extension, opting to enter free agency.
January 23, 2020: NBA All-Star Game Selection
On January 23, 2020, Davis was selected to be a front-court starter for the NBA All-Star Game.
December 3, 2020: Re-signs with Lakers
On December 3, 2020, Davis re-signed with the Lakers on a five-year, $190 million contract.
2020: Trade Request and Fine
In 2020, Anthony Davis informed the Pelicans that he would not sign a contract extension and requested a trade. He was fined $50,000 by the NBA for making his request public.
2020: Davis Wins NBA Championship with the Lakers
In 2020, Anthony Davis won his first NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
April 2021: Sidelined with Injury
For the 2020–21 season, he was sidelined for 30 games (February–April 2021), the longest absence of his career, due to right calf and heel issues.
September 18, 2021: Anthony Davis Marries Marlen Polanco
Anthony Davis married Marlen Polanco on September 18, 2021. They have three children together.
2021: Davis is named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Anthony Davis was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, celebrating the league's history and honoring some of the greatest players.
February 16, 2022: Right Ankle Injury
On February 16, 2022, in a 106–101 win against the Utah Jazz, Davis injured his right ankle and missed 18 games.
June 19, 2022: Anthony Davis Joins FaZe Clan
On June 19, 2022, Anthony Davis signed with FaZe Clan, joining Faze Clan's Nuke Squad for Call of Duty.
November 13, 2022: 37 Points, 18 Rebounds Against Nets
On November 13, 2022, Davis scored 37 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a 116–103 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
January 25, 2023: Davis Returns from Injury
On January 25, 2023, Anthony Davis returned to the Lakers after missing 20 games due to a right foot injury. In his return, he contributed 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks off the bench, leading the Lakers to a 113-104 victory against the San Antonio Spurs.
April 11, 2023: Davis Wins Player of the Month
On April 11, 2023, Anthony Davis was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for March/April. This recognition was based on his impressive average of 38.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 2.0 blocks in three games, helping the Lakers achieve a 3-0 record during that week.
August 4, 2023: Davis Signs Contract Extension
On August 4, 2023, Anthony Davis signed a three-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.
December 10, 2023: Davis Wins Inaugural NBA Cup
On December 10, 2023, Anthony Davis, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, won the inaugural NBA Cup after emerging victorious in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament. In the championship game against the Indiana Pacers, Davis delivered an outstanding performance with 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks, solidifying his role as a key player in the team's success.
2023: Davis's Playoff Performance
During the 2023 playoffs, Anthony Davis delivered a series of remarkable performances. In Game 1 of the first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, he recorded 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a playoff career-high 7 blocks. In Game 3 of the same series, Davis put up 31 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, leading the Lakers to a 111-101 victory.
2023: Davis Wins Inaugural NBA Cup with the Lakers
In 2023, Anthony Davis and the Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup.
2023: All-Star Game Scoring Record Broken by Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum broke Anthony Davis's NBA All-Star Game scoring record in 2023.
January 9, 2024: Davis Scores Season-High 41 Points
On January 9, 2024, Anthony Davis scored a season-high 41 points, with 20 of those points coming in the fourth quarter, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 132-131 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
April 14, 2024: Record Broken by Victor Wembanyama
Anthony Davis's record as the youngest NBA leading shot blocker was surpassed 10 seasons later by Victor Wembanyama on April 14, 2024, at 20 years and 101 days old.
April 15, 2024: Anthony Davis Named to Team USA for 2024 Summer Olympics
On April 15, 2024, Team USA announced an 11-man roster, including Anthony Davis, for Basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
2024: Davis's Continued Success
Throughout 2024, Anthony Davis continued to showcase his exceptional skills. Notably, he achieved his second and third career triple-doubles, demonstrating his versatility and impact on the court.