Podcast Summary: "Hoops Tonight – Why Anthony Davis is #10 in My NBA Player Rankings | Dallas Mavericks"
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Jason (The Volume, Hoops Tonight)
Air Date: August 19, 2025
Topic: Deep dive on Anthony Davis as the #10 NBA player, his career, Dallas Mavericks outlook, and a debate: Chris Paul vs. Kyrie Irving at their peaks.
Overview
In this episode of "Hoops Tonight," Jason embarks on the top 10 of his annual NBA player rankings, kicking off with Anthony Davis at #10. The show offers a meticulous analysis of Davis’s career trajectory, health concerns, skillset evolution, and looks ahead to his new role with the Dallas Mavericks. The show closes with a spirited debate on who was better at their peak: Chris Paul or Kyrie Irving.
Main Theme
- Central Question: Why is Anthony Davis ranked #10 in the NBA, ahead of stars like Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell, despite a rocky recent season?
- Purpose: To contextualize Davis’s placement by breaking down his health, on-court contributions, shifting roles, and what the future holds in Dallas. Plus, to explore the broader thinking in player evaluation—star power versus impact.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Anthony Davis's 2024-25 Season in Review
[02:13 – 13:00]
- Davis played only 51 games due to injuries, starting strong but slowed by nagging ailments and a late-season groin strain.
- Early season as a Laker: "In his first 25 games, he averaged a super efficient 28 points per game to go with 3.2 steals plus blocks per game. He was legit playing at that top tier superstar level..." [03:00]
- After the Lakers-Mavericks trade, Davis appeared in just nine games as a Maverick.
- Season averages: 25 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast, 3.4 stocks (steals + blocks), 54% FG, 28% 3PT, 78% FT.
Davis's “Ceiling vs. Floor” Issue
- Davis's variance between peak performance and baseline production is substantial, mainly due to health.
- Considered more reliable than Joel Embiid or Kawhi Leonard, who face chronic knee issues.
On Davis's Health:
- Luck is a major factor, but so is conditioning—“AD would show up to camp out of shape and would take long stretches of the summer off.” [05:30]
- Mass added post-2020 “came at the expense of his foot speed,” a tactical error that limited his versatility and may have contributed to soft tissue injuries.
"When a video pops up of Anthony Davis playing basketball in that 2020 season, doesn't even look like the same guy. He looks considerably thinner. He was moving considerably better, and it made him a more dynamic player..." – Jason [06:20]
Why Davis is Still Top 10
[13:00 – 18:25]
- Despite missing games and inconsistent offense in 2024-25, AD’s two-way impact is elite.
- Prediction: Motivational “revenge campaign” after being traded from the Lakers, expecting Davis to enter training camp in better shape and have a bounce-back year.
- His floor is higher than most: “You can basically bank on AD to give you at least 25 and 12 next year...an excellent defensive rebounder and rim protector. That’s the floor. What a strong foundation for the rest of your team to build on.” [38:52]
Deep Dive: AD's Game
Defense (Anchor & Ceiling)
[20:33 – 36:00]
- "What's crazy...even lumbering AD...has an incredibly high floor as a defensive player...his floor is an outrageously good shot blocker and rim protector." [22:00]
- Career 2.1 blocks even during injury-plagued years; earlier prime was 2.5 bpg.
- Elite defensive rebounder, led NBA in 2023.
- Scheme versatility: can play drop, switch, or attack the ball. In the 2023 playoffs, was “the best non-Wemby defender in the world,” especially noted for stifling Golden State.
"He completely stifled Golden State’s offense...every single decision Steve Kerr made...was geared around getting Anthony Davis away from the action and away from the rim...” [33:35]
- Critique: Surrounded by poor defensive rosters with the Lakers, which diluted recognition for his efforts (e.g., lack of Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defense).
Offense:
[36:01 – 42:55]
- Not a true offensive “engine,” but remains an “excellent play finisher.” [36:32]
- Averages 25 ppg on 59% true shooting.
- Outstanding pick-and-roll play and pick-and-pop threes (42%).
- Post play above average but never developed elite passing out of doubles (“He always just seemed to get spooked by double teams...trying to get rid of the ball rather than trying to find the kill pass.” [40:27])
- Not a reliable jump shooter outside of 2020.
- Main limitation: Never elevated to the offensive dominance of peak Embiid, Giannis, Jokic due to lack of passing, ball-handling, and/or lethal jump shot.
“When AD is a reliable 28-point-per-game scorer...that guy's a top tier superstar. When he's not...that's when he's more of that second tier star like we have in this particular list.” [21:10]
The Dallas Mavericks Angle: Power Forward vs. Center
[43:00 – 44:38]
- Davis prefers power forward, but Jason warns “his speed is an asset at the 5; at the 4, his speed is a liability.”
- Mavericks may have too many traditional centers, and pairing AD with another big impacts team’s floor spacing, ballhandling, and transition defense.
- Jason’s advice: “At least half—and all of your clutch time, big picture moments—aside from maybe against Denver, you're going to need Anthony Davis at center.” [44:13]
Bonus Segment: Chris Paul vs. Kyrie Irving – Who’s Better at Peak?
[48:56 – 57:49]
- Jason breaks down why he favors Chris Paul at his peak over Kyrie, despite Kyrie's championship credentials.
“Kyrie Irving is a scorer and one of the very best to do it. But Chris Paul is a legitimate offensive engine.” [50:45]
- Defensive gap is overstated; both solid, but not elite stoppers.
- Key differentiator: Offensive creation for teammates.
- Chris Paul generates more shots, advantages, and higher team efficiency, even if not always reflected in box score.
- Kyrie’s highs are higher (2016 Finals) but come with more variance; offense can collapse if the tough shots aren’t falling.
- Paul’s knock: Didn’t win a title as #1, but Jason argues CP3 on a better prime roster would have (“If you paired CP3 with Kevin Durant for six years...I think they get a title because you’re pairing Chris Paul's offensive engine nature with the tip of the spear scoring...” [54:25]).
- Conclusion: “Chris Paul is much better at generating offense for his entire team...that’s why I gravitate towards offensive engine types.”
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “[AD] was basically shipped off as trade filler in the dead of night...unprecedented for a Lakers star...I think he wants to prove everyone wrong.” – Jason [20:33]
- “Pete [Zayas] would always say: everyone’s yelling at AD when he’s trying to move the couch by himself. And it’s like, how about we help him move the couch before we start complaining...” [28:30]
- “His floor, no matter what, Dallas is going to get—even if he’s banged up and only plays 50 games—for 50 games, they’re going to get a rock-solid defensive anchor.” [24:47]
- “At the 5, [Davis’s] speed is an asset. At the 4, his speed is a liability...” [43:18]
- “When AD is healthy, in rhythm, and he drops some of the excess weight...he can go on runs...He had a stretch five games last year with the Lakers where he averaged 3.6 blocks per game.” [23:45]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Start of Davis breakdown (Season review, health context): [02:13]
- Davis's injury & conditioning analysis: [05:30]
- Davis's fit with Mavericks, power forward vs. center: [43:00]
- Chris Paul vs. Kyrie Irving debate: [48:56]
Tone & Language
- Analytical, opinionated, grounded in deep stats and personal observation.
- Firm in evaluation but fair—acknowledges counterarguments and limitations.
- Engaging, direct, appeals to both hardcore NBA followers and casual listeners.
For Listeners Who Missed It
- If you’ve followed Davis’s journey—this episode clarifies why he remains top 10 even after a tumultuous year.
- The show doubles as a broader discussion about NBA player valuation, the elusive nature of health and context, and why “offensive engines” matter more to winning than just spectacular scorers.
- The episode closes with a rare, objective look at the classic debate concerning system-point guards (CP3) versus isolation scorers (Kyrie)—providing clear rationale for preferring the point guard engine when building teams.