Suns’ Devin Booker laughs off Anthony Davis’ declare that harm prevented Lakers first-round upset in 2021

March is usually a time when college spirit is at an all-time excessive and whereas Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker and Lakers star ahead Anthony Davis each bleed Kentucky blue, their allegiances finish there.

In 2021, Booker’s Suns dethroned the defending champion Lakers within the opening spherical of the NBA Playoffs, with Davis severely restricted as a consequence of a groin harm in Sport 4 that held him out of Sport 5 and restricted him to 5 minutes of motion in Sport 6.

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Previous to the third of 4 regular-season conferences between the Suns and Lakers within the 2021-22 season, Davis was requested if his harm was the explanation the Suns have been capable of advance within the first spherical, to which he replied, “it was  … We all know that. They know that … They received away with one.”

Anthony Davis, requested if his groin harm is the primary motive the Lakers didn’t beat the Suns within the playoffs final 12 months, says: “It was … We all know that. They know that … They received away with one”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 13, 2022

With Davis sidelined as a consequence of a mid-foot sprain, the Suns earned a 140-111 rout over the Lakers on Sunday night time, led by 30 factors and 10 assists from Booker. Following the sport, Booker shared that he discovered humor in Davis’ declare.

“Nah, that is what’s gonna occur in any case. I simply suppose it is humorous,” Booker mentioned when requested if Davis’ phrases lit a hearth into him and the workforce. 

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When requested why it was humorous, Booker added that “it is simply all of the ‘ifs’ and if ‘if’ was a fifth, we would all be drunk,” along with one other outdated adage.

Devin Booker’s full response to Anthony Davis pregame feedback, together with this gem: “If ‘ifs’ have been a fifth, we would all be drunk.”

Merely shrugged and laughed when someone introduced up Chris Paul being damage in final 12 months’s playoff collection: pic.twitter.com/Z7RT6FYA99

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) March 14, 2022

“It is a variety of ‘ifs’ on this sport and also you take a look at historical past alongside the strains and there is one thing that comes up for each workforce throughout each season,” Booker continued. “So as a substitute of simply taking the excessive route and going, you need to make a remark like that. It is type of humorous.”

Booker could not assist however snort and shrug when it was famous that Chris Paul, who went down with a shoulder harm in Sport 1 final 12 months, was severely restricted within the first-round collection as properly.

LA and Phoenix meet for one remaining time within the common season on April 5, however that may not be the top of the saga, as a playoff rematch might be within the playing cards.

MORE: What are Lakers’ NBA Playoff, Play-In Event possibilities? LA’s postseason odds, remaining schedule

With the Lakers doubtless ending ninth or tenth within the West, they might solely earn the eighth seed within the Western Convention Play-In Event, which might arrange a date with the Suns, who’re on observe to clinch the highest seed.

We’ll see if Davis’ availability has an influence on a possible collection this time round.