Anthony Davis just can’t seem to stay on the floor. After being slowed by foot and back injuries this year and being limited to 56 games, he had to make an early exit from Wednesday’s Game 5 Warriors-Lakers second-round playoff matchup.
With about 7:45 left In the fourth quarter, Kevon Looney’s left hand hit Anthony Davis in the temple inadvertently while bodies got tangled in the paint as D’Angelo Russell drove to the hoop.
To many observers, it looked like an unfortunate accident that could be shaken off, but Davis exited the game shortly thereafter and didn’t return. In fact, Davis reportedly needed a wheelchair to get back to the locker room, but left Chase Center on his own two feet.
According to Chris Haynes of TNT, Davis is expected to play in Game 6 Friday in Los Angeles, meaning he likely didn’t suffer a concussion.
During Wednesday’s postgame show on “Inside the NBA,” Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley started laughing once co-host Ernie Johnson mentioned Davis needed a wheelchair. O’Neal and Barkley never specifically mention they’re laughing about Davis, but everyone knows. Ernie tried to coax it out of them, but Shaq and Chuck deflected the questions with more laughter.
Back in the 70s/80s/90s, an occasional punch or shove during an NBA game just came with the territory. Back in 1999, Shaq even threw a left hook at Chuck during an in-game squabble. Barkley also famously exchanged punches with Bill Laimbeer in a 1990 fight. I doubt anyone needed a wheelchair to the locker room afterwards.
Nowadays, with the attention on concussions in the NFL and pro sports in general, it’s a whole different beast.
