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sports Diabierna 4 December 2020

Agent: Anthony Davis inking 5-year deal to return to Lakers

(AP) — Anthony Davis is around them. The 6-foot-10
finalizing a five-year con- Davis immediately clicked
tract worth up to $190 mil- alongside James, earning his
lion to return to the Los seventh straight All-Star se-
Angeles Lakers. lection.

Davis' agent, Rich Paul of James and Davis reteamed
Klutch Sports, confirmed the in the bubble in central
terms of Davis' pending free Florida and led the Lakers
agent deal to The Associated to Davis' first NBA title and
Press on Thursday. The Lak- James' fourth. The Lakers
ers didn't comment. had missed the playoffs for
six straight seasons before
One day after LeBron James the veteran duo transformed
agreed to a two-year, $85 mil- the franchise into champions
lion contract extension with again.
the Lakers through 2022-
23, Davis committed to the The Lakers are returning
Lakers through the 2024-25 this month with a roster
season. Davis' deal includes that looks even better than
an early termination clause last season's championship
prior to the fifth year, but the squad. NBA veterans Marc
contract is still a clear decla- Gasol and Montrezl Harrell
ration that the 27-year-old have replaced Dwight How-
Davis sees his long-term fu- ard and JaVale McGee to
ture with the 17-time NBA keep Davis out of the center blocks per game. Along with defensive player of the year
champions. spot during the regular sea- hitting 50% of his shots and a voting. Although the Lakers' massive
son, while Wesley Matthews career-high 84.6% of his free fan base couldn't attend their
The Lakers acquired Davis replaced inconsistent Danny throws, Davis was a domi- Davis was even better in the latest championship run,
in a trade before last season, Green on the wing and gifted nant presence in the paint playoff bubble, averaging Davis is already cementing
shipping most of their young point guard Dennis Schröder and on the wing throughout 27.7 points 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 a spot among the franchise's
core to New Orleans to ac- arrived to take ball-handling the year while the Lakers assists and 1.4 blocks. He hit greatest big men, a proud lin-
quire one of the best big men pressure off James. played the Western Confer- 57% of his shots and 38% of eage stretching from George
of his generation. ence's stingiest defense. his 3-pointers, including a Mikan and Wilt Chamber-
With Klutch clients James Davis excelled throughout remarkable game-winning 3 lain through Kareem Abdul-
and Davis at their core, the his first season with the Lak- Davis finished second to at the buzzer in Game 2 of Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal and
Lakers immediately built a ers, averaging 26.1 points, 9.3 Milwaukee's Giannis Ante- the Western Conference fi- Pau Gasol.
championship contender rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 tokounmpo in the NBA's nals against Denver.

Giants Barkley has no doubts about return from ACL injury

(AP) — Saquon Barkley has no doubt he will Speaking to the media on Thursday for the first season.
get back on the field and play for the New time since the injury ended his season on Sept. 20, Barkley said he has been in contact with the current
York Giants once he's finished rehabilitating Barkley would not put a timetable on his return. Detroit Lions running back and they even talked
the torn ACL in his right knee. The 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year insists the night before his surgery in Los Angeles in late
his goal is to improve 1% every day. October. Surgeons repaired the ACL and also fixed
a torn meniscus. The MCL was damaged on the
The running back has now been hit with injuries play but it healed with time.
two straight seasons. He missed three games last
year because of a high ankle sprain and saw his sea- Barkley said there have been good and bad times
son ended in less than two games this year. since the injury. One of the darkest times came on
the play he was hurt. He knew it was serious right
A big believer in taking on challenges, Barkley said away.
injuries are something a player can't control; they
just happen in a physical game. His plan now is to Game day on the couch also has had its ups and
attack every day and get his body back in shape. downs.
“When we win, you still feel that joy, even though
“Hopefully, you know, it works for me. It works I’m not on the field,” Barkley said. “But it’s also
out for me,” Barkley said. “I don’t look at it that that sit on a couch and watching there. Then you
way, that I’m not Superman. I never viewed myself can feel helpless. You can’t do anything. You can’t
as a Superman. I wouldn’t say I put that on myself. help your team at all. So I would say Sundays are
But I had an injury last year. I was able to over- the toughest days, but the last three weeks they
come that and I have an injury this year. And this they’ve been pretty good.”
is another challenge in a way that, you know, that I The Giants (4-7) have won their last three games
would be ready to face.” and lead the NFC East heading into a game at the
Seattle Seahawks (8-3) on Sunday.
The No.2 overall pick in the '18 draft, Barkley Barkley has enjoyed seeing backup halfback Wayne
might have gotten a new contract after this season Gallman carry the load lately behind a much-im-
if he had another big year. He rushed for 1,000 proved offensive line.
yards in each of his first two seasons. The rehabilitation and having football taken away
has been a challenge, said Barkley, who rejoined
Barkley said the money is not his focus now. Get- the Giants in New Jersey two weeks ago.
ting better and trying to have the type of season
Adrian Peterson had after tearing his ACL in De- “But, you know, I’m just trying to be supportive as
cember 2011 while playing for Minnesota is the I can," he said. “You love seeing my guys out there
goal. ballin' and doing it, especially the way we’re playing
Peterson won the NFL MVP Award the following right now. So that definitely makes life a lot easier.”