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‘I Can’t Play Like That’: Anthony Davis Calls Out Lakers for Forcing Drastic Change to His Weight

There was a version of Anthony Davis in Los Angeles that looked almost impossible to stop. He was the 4 next to a true center, flying around the floor without having to spend every night wrestling with the biggest body…

Published: Monday, 5 October 2026 at 2:59 PM
‘I Can’t Play Like That’: Anthony Davis Calls Out Lakers for Forcing Drastic Change to His Weight
Key Things to Know
  • Anthony Davis revealed playing center for the Lakers forced his weight up to 268 pounds, making him feel uncomfortable.
  • Davis explained he added the weight to physically match up against centers like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.
  • The physical burden prompted his repeated requests for the Lakers to acquire another true center before he was traded.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Anthony Davis revealed on the "Numbers On The Board" podcast that playing center for the Los Angeles Lakers forced him to increase his weight from his typical 250 to 255 pounds up to nearly 268 pounds. Davis explained that the physical demands of defending elite centers like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic required altered strength training, leaving him feeling too heavy to perform at his best.

The discomfort motivated Davis to request that the Lakers acquire another center so he could return to power forward, mirroring the lineup from their 2020 championship run. After subsequent stints with the Dallas Mavericks and now the Washington Wizards, Davis noted he is excited to finally play alongside established centers such as Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton.

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