Rob Pelinka says ‘there is no more complete basketball player’ than Anthony Davis

Rob Pelinka is hyperbolic when describing the weather, so when he was given the opportunity to wax poetic about a player as great as Anthony Davis, well, let’s just say I’m more than a little shocked no live doves or pyrotechnics were used in his introduction.

To be clear, he stopped just short of either, and in all likelihood would’ve had a harp involved if he’d been totally in charge.

“What we think about Anthony Davis is this: There is no more compete basketball player in the game. There is nothing he can’t do. He can shoot, he can make plays, he can defend 1-5, he can protect the rim, he can handle the ball,” Pelinka told reporters Saturday afternoon.

So far, though, Pelinka is right. I mean, Giannis Antetokounmpo might have something to say about all of this, but Davis at least has a stake to the claim based on Pelinka’s measurements.

Next came an interesting promise, not just about this upcoming season, but well beyond that.

“His dedication to his craft is unparalleled and to sit here next to him, we think he’s going to be on our team, he’s going to be a pillar for this franchise for many years,” Pelinka said “(That’s) something we’re incredibly proud of, not just as a basketball player but who he is as a person. He’s a person of excellence and he’s a person that carries himself in a way where actions speak louder than words.

“He’s not out talking a lot, you don’t see him talking much in games or, really, talking about himself. He just does it with his work,” Pelinka continued. “That’s at the core of what we want this team to be this season.”

Davis would go on to say that his focus was on this season and that he would make a decision about his future whenever the time comes to do so, but it was interesting to hear Pelinka stick his neck out there in this regard.

The fact of the matter remains, though: The Lakers would be absolutely and utterly f---ed if Davis walks at the end of the year. You think this last stretch has been dark? Yeah. Get ready for the darkest timeline.

You know what, Rob? Go ahead and unleash some of those pigeons. Light those fireworks. Does Davis have a favorite artist? Bring them in whenever he wants. Favorite food? Sorry, everyone else, better get your tastebuds ready for Davis’ preferences. Davis doesn’t like playing center? Talk to Adam Silver about having the position taken away altogether.

I kid, obviously (but not really — Adam, get at me).

To get back to the hyperbole Pelinka showered Davis with at first, though, get yourselves ready for quite a few “Have We Been Underrating Anthony Davis All This Time?” thinkpieces throughout the year.

With James as a pick-and-roll partner, and the proper spacing provided by Pelinka (apparently with Davis and James’ input) across the roster, Davis has been put in a pretty great situation, all things considered. Now, it’s just about living up to Pelinka’s effusive praise — even if that might be physically impossible.

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