EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Anthony Davis has reassured fans that he is feeling better after suffering a poke to his left eye during a game against Toronto, inflicted by Jakob Poeltl. Despite the ongoing concern about his eye, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star has indicated that he will be ready to play on Wednesday night against Memphis, showing confidence in his recovery process. After practice at the Lakers’ training facility, it was evident that Davis’s left eye was still showing signs of the injury, with some discoloration present.
“I’ll go about my day and do what I need to do,” Davis stated, before adding that he needs to focus on getting more rest. While he is uncertain if the latest incident has resulted in another corneal abrasion—something he dealt with last March after being poked during a match against Golden State—he emphasized that he is medically cleared to play. “A couple of scratches in my eye,” Davis described the injury, while acknowledging he isn’t fully informed on the technicalities but is ready to hit the court.
Every time Davis takes a hit to the face, questions arise about whether he will consider adopting protective eyewear, similar to legendary big men like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Amare Stoudemire. Tuesday, as the question was posed to him, he promptly dismissed the idea with a straightforward “No.” He explained, “I don’t want to, and the doctor said I didn’t have to,” adding that he will reconsider only if his medical team insists on the necessity of goggles.
Reflecting on his past experiences, Davis mentioned that he wore goggles for roughly three years as a child. He attempted to revert to wearing them briefly during the Lakers’ successful championship journey in the Florida bubble back in 2020, but ultimately, that experiment did not last long.
The injury occurred during the third quarter of Sunday night’s game against Toronto after Davis executed a remarkable one-handed block against Poeltl, who inadvertently hit Davis in the face with his other hand. Although Davis did not return after the injury, his team managed to secure a convincing 123-103 win against the Raptors, showcasing their resilience without him on the court.
As the season progresses, Davis is making waves and has already sparked discussions about potential MVP honors at the age of 31. To date, he ranks second in the NBA, averaging 31.2 points per game, along with impressive stats that include 10.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 blocks, reflecting his vital role in helping the Lakers maintain a 6-4 record.
