Will Anthony Davis get his number retired by Lakers?

[Beethoven]

What do you think?

Im sure they'll at least do something for the guy.
I'm thinking more in lines of having random memorabilia for him.. I dunno, he falls in the middle - of important players such as Odom/Horry/Fox/Dfish/Rambis... and greats such as LeBron/Kobe/Shaq/Wilt/Kareem/Magic/Doncic (yeah I'll put Doncic here)

I find the tenure of Pau Gasol (as a team player) more important and significant than Davis's tenure here. So I understand and respect they retired Pau's number.
Not sure of AD though.

[Danny Darko]

What do you think?

Im sure they'll at least do something for the guy.
I'm thinking more in lines of having random memorabilia for him.. I dunno, he falls in the middle - of important players such as Odom/Horry/Fox/Dfish/Rambis... and greats such as LeBron/Kobe/Shaq/Wilt/Kareem/Magic/Doncic (yeah I'll put Doncic here)

I find the tenure of Pau Gasol (as a team player) more important and significant than Davis's tenure here. So I understand and respect they retired Pau's number.
Not sure of AD though.

Yeah I think the bar is higher than the results. He's done some amazing things in games, but delivery on results over time isn't there for me, personally for AD.

[LAKESHOW]

LAKER history is always tricky. If we were OKC, for sure, we ain't got nuttin up there. But regardless of accolades, Championship, folks will look up there and say, he ain't Kareem. Or he ain't like Magic.. so I'm not gonna say for sure 1 way or another

[Beethoven]

Yeah I think the bar is higher than the results. He's done some amazing things in games, but delivery on results over time isn't there for me, personally for AD.

LAKER history is always tricky. If we were OKC, for sure, we ain't got nuttin up there. But regardless of accolades, Championship, folks will look up there and say, he ain't Kareem. Or he ain't like Magic.. so I'm not gonna say for sure 1 way or another

Yes I agree with you; I have no axe to grind with AD. At one point he was my favorite player on the team (earlier this season in 2024 winter when he bulked up, was acting aggressive, getting huge numbers, and talking a bit more forward like Shaq did than to be diplomatic or sugar coating)..
I thought he would take over, but the same ol thing happened. I knew we werent going anywhere. I was so pleased to trade him off (and for Doncic of all people, I was absolutely floored)

He is a great like Fisher and Horry and Odom, but not deserving a number retirement. AD is a more skilled and greater player than Pau ever was, but in Laker context, Pau was more of a significant presence in Laker history for me. To me Pau is almost legendary. AD was great but won't be talked about too much in 10-20 years.


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An emotional game last nite (for both Doncic and AD of course) where we tried to game-plan around eliminating AD's touches, still would have allowed for him to put up some kind of stat like 25 points, but AD got only 13 points last nite. Shaq would have never done that. He would have gone off. (yes it is unfair to compare him to shaq, but still im just trying to make a point. He is not a superstar)

[stan francisco]

That’s a tough one. AD was instrumental
to the bubble championship. Pau won us two rings. AD had a slightly bigger upside than Pau and I always thought he’d be here post Bron for another couple of rings. Always assumed his jersey would be up there one day. Now that he’s gone I guess I’d have to say no to AD in the rafters, not sure.

[danfantastk32]

He absolutely will. He won a title here, and will get into the HoF.

Your comparison here is Wilt. Wilt joined the Lakers at 32...played 5 years as a Laker, and won a title. Got into HoF - Jersey in rafter.

[MAMBAEMD]

Love AD and was sad that he got traded.

I would be pleasantly surprised if he got his number retired or if he got a statue. Just don't think his resume supports it, and it is a very high bar for this organization.

[Beethoven]

Love AD and was sad that he got traded.

I would be pleasantly surprised if he got his number retired or if he got a statue. Just don't think his resume supports it, and it is a very high bar for this organization.

I'd be disappointed if I see a statue being built for him. I'm a big AD fan too, but currently there's an oversaturation of statues at staples already. The front area there is cluttered. They got to knock some of them down.

[MAMBAEMD]

^^^
I agree. The statues are a tourist attraction.
The most popular one is the one of Kobe.
Every time I'm there, there is a big crowd around it.

I doubt they will tear any down.
And at least one more is coming up, for LBJ.

And hopefully Luka signs an extension with us, and he is then almost guaranteed to have his statue there and number retired.

[Beethoven]

^^^
I agree. The statues are a tourist attraction.
The most popular one is the one of Kobe.
Every time I'm there, there is a big crowd around it.

I doubt they will tear any down.
And at least one more is coming up, for LBJ.

And hopefully Luka signs an extension with us, and he is then almost guaranteed to have his statue there and number retired.

Yes I do want one of Lebron and one of Luka (hopefully he stays long term and becomes a true tenured Laker)
I wish they would take out all the boxing and hockey ones (lol sorry I'm not a fan)

[Jedi32]

I sure hope so. Won a chip, plus conference finals. I’d put him up there. It had been 10 years since we’d won anything prior to the 20’ chip.

[danfantastk32]

Love AD and was sad that he got traded.

I would be pleasantly surprised if he got his number retired or if he got a statue. Just don't think his resume supports it, and it is a very high bar for this organization.

I'd be disappointed if I see a statue being built for him. I'm a big AD fan too, but currently there's an oversaturation of statues at staples already. The front area there is cluttered. They got to knock some of them down.

I can guarantee you 100% that he will get his Jersey retired. I'd put it at less than 5% that he'll get a statue. The jersey rules are simple: if you played for the Lakers and got into the HoF - Jersey retire. There might be a little room for a guy who passed through for a year or two. Take a guy like Danny Green: if he somehow made it to HoF...I sorta doubt he get's his jersey retired. Same with say, Gary Payton, or Malone. But AD played 5 1/2 seasons here, and was the #2 in getting that title. A team built around he and Lebron. He'll get retired, no doubt. Doubly-so in this watered down world of participation trophies, and "inclusion" (not the political sense...let's leave that elsewhere). Jeanie is an old softy.....AD will most definitely get his jersey retired.

But statues are a little more vague...reserved for people who truly are part of the Laker tapestry. I don't know of any 'rules' that make you qualify..other than you need to be a large part of Laker history. He certainly wouldn't qualify. I only put 5%....because going back to that participation trophy era we're in...and how obviously Jeanie and the FO likes to "lean in" on our past. If we were to go through a cold spell of being a bit irrelevant after Lebron leaves....I could see lesser statues being made...in an effort to stay relevant, and generate hype. Guys like Horry, and Pau, and Fisher, and Cooper, etc. You'd see Wilt get one, even though he's def more of a Philly legend. And, yes.....prob AD as well.

I agree with you.....I'd like to see the statues stay exclusive. But there's the saying that 'quantity has a quality all unto it's own'...and I think the Lakers are trying to brag about all the amazing people in it's history...so the more the merrier, in their minds. We'll see

[stan francisco]

I sure hope so. Won a chip, plus conference finals. I’d put him up there. It had been 10 years since we’d won anything prior to the 20’ chip.

Good point.

I like the Wilt comparison above, too.

He should have his jersey retired. First ballot HOF, one championship just like Wilt. Plus, he’s an NBA Cup champion.

If Wilt and Pau are in our rafters, AD should be, too.

[Beethoven]

Everyone making good points, to now I am sort of leaning the other way now, retiring his number.

But for optics, the numbers up there will just get diluted. It's sort of a slippery slope to retiring any number for any future 1-3 option player on the team who was available when we (not if) get more champtionships in the future.


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I think there is a reason for teams to be lax on number retirement (as they really have nobody to give them to, kind of like a team like the Wizards) and then get more strict in criteria when they have a few numbers up there (like Lakers and celtics).

So, in that sense, we shouldnt retire AD's number.

[danfantastk32]

Everyone making good points, to now I am sort of leaning the other way now, retiring his number.

But for optics, the numbers up there will just get diluted. It's sort of a slippery slope to retiring any number for any future 1-3 option player on the team who was available when we (not if) get more champtionships in the future.


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I think there is a reason for teams to be lax on number retirement (as they really have nobody to give them to, kind of like a team like the Wizards) and then get more strict in criteria when they have a few numbers up there (like Lakers and celtics).

So, in that sense, we shouldnt retire AD's number.

Should/shouldn't is a different conversation that will/will not. I wouldn't do it if it were up to me. 5-1/2 years just ain't enough. He's got a good argument being a major piece of a title...but at the same time, we're not a team with 3-4-5 titles to our name. We've got 11 or 12 since the merger. I just don't think he's earned it. Couple more years, and maybe. I also feel the same way about Wilt. Just not enough. Pau is the one I go back and forth on. 6-1/2 years is only one more than AD. Did get 2 titles. It's damn close. Really wish he coulda given us another year or two, and it woulda been unquestioned, imo. I don't have a problem with it...but it's a little weak. - Now this has nothing to do with what I think of the players - this is just plain, cold, hard truth. 6-1/2 years is one third of alot of careers. In fact, he played 6-1/2 years in Memphis....so we're not even his largest slice of cake. I mean...technically, technically, he has a dozen more games there (you could get technical, technical, technical...and add the post-season games..where he's prob played more with us)..so it's a shade of grey. Davis played 7 in NO..to the 5-1/2 here. I just wouldn't do it. He's not "a Laker".

Now will/will not they?? They certainly will.

[Beethoven]

Everyone making good points, to now I am sort of leaning the other way now, retiring his number.

But for optics, the numbers up there will just get diluted. It's sort of a slippery slope to retiring any number for any future 1-3 option player on the team who was available when we (not if) get more champtionships in the future.


--

I think there is a reason for teams to be lax on number retirement (as they really have nobody to give them to, kind of like a team like the Wizards) and then get more strict in criteria when they have a few numbers up there (like Lakers and celtics).

So, in that sense, we shouldnt retire AD's number.

Should/shouldn't is a different conversation that will/will not. I wouldn't do it if it were up to me. 5-1/2 years just ain't enough. He's got a good argument being a major piece of a title...but at the same time, we're not a team with 3-4-5 titles to our name. We've got 11 or 12 since the merger. I just don't think he's earned it. Couple more years, and maybe. I also feel the same way about Wilt. Just not enough. Pau is the one I go back and forth on. 6-1/2 years is only one more than AD. Did get 2 titles. It's damn close. Really wish he coulda given us another year or two, and it woulda been unquestioned, imo. I don't have a problem with it...but it's a little weak. - Now this has nothing to do with what I think of the players - this is just plain, cold, hard truth. 6-1/2 years is one third of alot of careers. In fact, he played 6-1/2 years in Memphis....so we're not even his largest slice of cake. I mean...technically, technically, he has a dozen more games there (you could get technical, technical, technical...and add the post-season games..where he's prob played more with us)..so it's a shade of grey. Davis played 7 in NO..to the 5-1/2 here. I just wouldn't do it. He's not "a Laker".

Now will/will not they?? They certainly will.

Great points about the years and proportion of tenure between the teams.

But I want to note that also the final allegiance of the player's heart should be in question also for that part of it above.
Yes Pau did not stay with Lakers as his longest tenure (neither did Shaq if you look at all his years) but whenever you see a Laker ceremony or something big, Shaq and Pau are always there. Pau is a forever friend to Kobe and his family. Shaq has his strongest ties with the Lakers I believe (not sure if he goes to Miami and Orlando functions)

This above though doesnt really count though towards getting a number retired, as I see Jerry West lost his allegiance at the end of everything, he's not a true Laker anymore (at least, I suppose). But Pat Riley I still see him a Laker at heart because he's always willing to fly out to Los Angeles for our things (or maybe he is just a gentleman to be in attendance for everything he's invited to)

on another note,
Dwight Howard, was one I thought was just a star who had Lakers as just one of his stops. But the fact he came back and won a championship with us, the notion is so romantic (a la Lebron chosen one back to Cleveland) and so inspiring as a story of its own, and Dwight cherishes that immensely. Even though he has some gripes about Lakers now. He still cannot stop talking about his good times with Lakers. But at the end of it, he's someone who's moved on from the Lakers. NBA is in his heart.. not the Lakers per se. He's grabbed a piece from everywhere.

None of this really makes that much flowing sense in response to your post, I know, but they are just my thoughts being written down

[NBAWestFan]

AD would have a number re-tired untill he said I felt betrayed.

He needs to clarify who he is talking about. If it is the Lakers then maybe not.

[Landsberger]

No way. Not in our rafters if the owner's understand who's up there and why. That said I could easily see it... unfortunately.

[Landsberger]

The jersey rules are simple: if you played for the Lakers and got into the HoF - Jersey retire.

So... which side of Kobe's statue does Dwight Howard's go on? 12 or 39 retired?

"Jersey Rules"? Really?

Davis doesn't belong in the rafters here. Maybe we can put up a "DNP being washed" placeholder up there instead.

Jersey retirement should be for players that defined an era in our history. Davis won an iffy championship during COVID. He led us to zero follow up finals and some very lackluster finishes given we had 2 of the most popular players in the league.

At BB Reference he has a known nickname of "Street Clothes"... let that sink in. Maybe we could hang that wild gold sweat suit with the matching ski cap he wore up there instead.

I guess I see our retired jerseys a little differently than you do. The rules for the second winningest franchise ever would seem to be more than a stint of good stats and some personal achievements.

And don't get me started on the number of people who make the HOF each year. We don't need to induct players every year just to get a show on ESPN. The HOF is so watered down.

[danfantastk32]

The jersey rules are simple: if you played for the Lakers and got into the HoF - Jersey retire.

So... which side of Kobe's statue does Dwight Howard's go on? 12 or 39 retired?

"Jersey Rules"? Really?

Davis doesn't belong in the rafters here. Maybe we can put up a "DNP being washed" placeholder up there instead.

Jersey retirement should be for players that defined an era in our history. Davis won an iffy championship during COVID. He led us to zero follow up finals and some very lackluster finishes given we had 2 of the most popular players in the league.

At BB Reference he has a known nickname of "Street Clothes"... let that sink in. Maybe we could hang that wild gold sweat suit with the matching ski cap he wore up there instead.

I guess I see our retired jerseys a little differently than you do. The rules for the second winningest franchise ever would seem to be more than a stint of good stats and some personal achievements.

And don't get me started on the number of people who make the HOF each year. We don't need to induct players every year just to get a show on ESPN. The HOF is so watered down.

Well your a little chippy tonight. Been a while...good to see you.

First off....nobody's thrown the "Street clothes" name around here more than I have. Secondly, you can see our jersey retirements as you see fit....I made it VERY, VERY clear that there's 2 different statements here: WILL he get his jersey retirement....and SHOULD he. Your neck deep in the "should he" swamp....but the question posed in the thread is "Will he". So calm down, and don't talk to me like I'm 5.