Lakers’ Anthony Davis is named NBA Western Conference player of the week

One day after dropping just the fourth 50-point performance for a Laker since 2000, forward Anthony Davis was named NBA Western Conference player of the week on Monday.

Davis averaged 35 points per game on 63.3% shooting with eight rebounds, 2.5 assists, two blocks and 1.8 steals as the league-leading Lakers (21-3) won four straight games this past week. After road wins at Denver (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Utah (26 points), he capped the three-game road sweep with 39 points against Portland on Friday. But he saved his best for last as he recorded his fourth career 50-point game in Sunday’s 142-125 win over Minnesota at Staples Center. He added seven rebounds, six assists and four steals in the win.

“He’s an animal, man,� Lakers guard Alex Caruso said Sunday. “We keep talking about how good he is, and he keeps improving, getting better and better and looking better and better.�

This is the second time this season Davis has been named conference player of the week and his first since Nov. 4, which was the first time a Lakers player had earned the distinction since Kobe Bryant in the 2012-13 season. Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and current teammate LeBron James are the only Lakers since 2000 to score 50 points in a game.

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Davis made 20 of 29 shots against the Timberwolves and all 10 of his free throws. The high-scoring performance came without a single made three-pointer. Coach Frank Vogel called it an “old-school performance and one for the ages.�

Off to their best start since the 2008-09 season, the Lakers now begin a five-game road trip Wednesday at Orlando.