The Los Angeles Lakers’ success this season largely depends on Anthony Davis, as he has been the team’s top player so far.
Davis has been playing at an MVP level and is key to the Lakers’ defense and offense, so it was concerning when he had to leave the game against the Toronto Raptors due to an eye injury.
Davis was poked in the left eye during the game and was in pain for a few moments before heading to the locker room. He was later ruled out, and it was revealed that he was having trouble seeing out of the injured eye.
The good news is that Davis returned to practice on Tuesday and said his eye is fine. He expects to play in the Lakers’ next game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
“It’s fine,” Davis said. “I’m doing fine… Nothing happens next, I’ll go about my days like I would any other day. There’s nothing that I need to do. Next step is getting some more sleep and getting ready for tomorrow.”
Davis wasn’t sure about the exact diagnosis but confirmed he was cleared to play against Memphis.
“I have no idea. A couple scratches in my eye. As far as like the medical term and everything, I’m not 100% sure but I am cleared to play.”
After the eye injury, some thought Davis might start wearing goggles for protection, but he quickly shut that idea down. “Because I don’t want to. I wore goggles for three years when I was younger. Just don’t want to, to be honest.
“Obviously, the doctor said I don’t have to, but if it gets to a point where the doctor orders me to. I think Amar’e (Stoudemire) had to because of a risk of being blind if he gets hit in the eye or something like that, but that’s not the case for me.
If it gets to that point where my eye doctor tells me that I need to wear them, then of course I will. But I’ve been cleared to go out and play without them.”
It would be more reassuring for the Lakers and their fans if Davis took extra precautions for his eyes, but the good news is that he won’t be missing any games.
When Davis was out, Jaxson Hayes stepped in and helped the Lakers secure the win against Toronto. Hayes later said he focused on filling Davis’s role, especially on defense.
