JJ Redick has turned Anthony Davis into the MVP candidate we’ve been waiting for with Shaq-like stats

From the moment he was hired, JJ Redick believed Anthony Davis could play a much bigger role in the Lakers’ offense. Redick told reporters during the preseason that the players and coaching staff intended to have Davis touch the ball as much as possible, which would also lessen the load on a 39-year-old LeBron James.

That plan has worked amazingly well from an offensive standpoint so far.

Davis is averaging the most points of his career and is playing like a top-five MVP candidate. The Lakers have gone from an average offense to ranking no. 4 in offensive efficiency in large part because of the perfect role that Redick has created for his star center.

Here are the changes Redick has made to free up Davis and the rest of the Lakers offense.

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Anthony Davis scores better than MVP Shaq

Davis’ raw numbers are unlike anything the Lakers have seen from a big man.

Los Angeles has been home to great centers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan and Shaq. No has averaged more than Davis’ 30.1 points per game. match. That even includes Shaq during his 2000 MVP season.

Shaquille O’Neal (’99-’00)	State (per game)	Anthony Davis (’24-’25)
29.7	Points	30.1
13.6	Rebounds	11.1
3.8	Assisting	2.8
57.4%	Field Goals %	55.6%
0%	3-point %	40.6%
52.4%	Free Throw %	78.1%
57.4%	Effective FG %	57.9%

Davis scores more efficiently than Shaq did and does so more often. This has happened for a couple of reasons.

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How JJ Redick has turned Anthony Davis into the MVP candidate we’ve been waiting for

Davis has rediscovered his 3-pointer

When AD hits his 3s, the Lakers are a different team.

Davis shot 38.3 percent from deep in the 2020 bubble, leading Los Angeles to a championship. Since that hot stretch, he has been both a reluctant and inaccurate shooter. Former head coaches Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham tried to get him to let it fly more often with little success.

Redick has succeeded where his predecessors failed. Davis is hitting 40.6 percent of his 3s while taking them at his highest rate in the last four years (2.1 attempts per game). This commitment to the 3 started in the preseason, when Redick made an opening play to get AD a 3.

“He knocked it down,” Redick said after that game. “Whether it’s confidence or relief, he was willing to shoot tonight. We want him to be willing to shoot.”

Redick has hammered Davis to make himself a shooting threat throughout the Olympics, preseason and regular season. That confidence in his star has led to immediate results.

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The plan to make Davis an offensive focal point is working

Davis is getting more touches and his decision making is being tested every night. He explained his new role in an appearance on SportsCenter earlier in the year.

“It’s some of the schemes that JJ put in place that makes me the center of the attack that plays through me. I just have to read it. I feel very confident right now.”

Davis has been a great passer at the elbows. Redick has used him there in Warriors-style split actions where he hits cutters for layups. He has acted as a release valve for James when defenders try to deny him the ball.

Davis has also made some smart passes in the Lakers’ delay sets, getting the ball at the top of the 3-point line. It has drawn opposing centers higher up the floor and opened up the paint for layups.

Davis’ passing options have been there because of how much more movement is involved in the team’s offense.

“We have constant movement when somebody has the ball,” Davis said on SportsCenter. “There aren’t many standing that don’t give the defense a chance to charge up.”

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Davis has been the Lakers’ primary scoring weapon

It is the first time since James joined the Lakers that he does not lead the team in usage rate. That honor belongs to Davis, who is uses 31.6 per cent of team possessions, which is a shade more than the 31.2 percent MVP Shaq used a quarter-century ago.

While Shaq was a low post force, Davis has been a much more versatile offensive player. He has been good in isolation and remains one of the best players in the league, ranking in the 95th percentile of players. He’s a great finisher at the rim, he’s got a nice floater, and he’s rediscovered that jumper to keep defenses honest. There is simply no way to stop him these days.

Davis has taken over as the clear best player on this team, and that is Redick’s design. That has eased the burden on James, who is still playing like an All-NBA player himself.

Davis always had those skills in him, but Redick saw how he could utilize his passing, shooting and scoring. It has led to the best season of Davis’ career and a Lakers offense that is one of the best in the league.