NBA

Anthony Davis stats: Why Lakers star's performance in In-Season Tournament championship game won't count

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Anthony Davis
(NBAE via Getty Images)

41 points. 20 rebounds. 6 assists. 4 blocks.

To lead the Lakers to the first-ever NBA Cup, Anthony Davis put forth one of the most dominant performances of his NBA career. One for the record books, even, though there's just one problem: the stats from this game technically won't count.

While each game of Group Play and the Knockout Round doubled as regular-season games, the In-Season Tournament Championship was a standalone contest that did not contribute to either participant's regular-season record or their season stats.

So, what happens to the stats from the In-Season Tournament Championship? Here's what will come of Davis' historic performance.

MORE: Anthony Davis dominates as Lakers win first-ever NBA Cup

Why Anthony Davis' performance in the In-Season Tournament championship game won't count

Davis' stats from the In-Season Tournament Championship game do not count because the game is a standalone game that is not part of the regular season. As such, the stats from this game will stand on their own in a different record book.

This season, Davis is averaging 22.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 blocks per game, impressive numbers even without his gargantuan championship performance in Las Vegas.

Those averages are unaffected by his In-Season Tournament championship stat line, which now stands in a new record book that will have performances added to it as the NBA's In-Season Tournament becomes an annual occurrence.

As it stands, Davis holds the NBA Cup records for points (41) and rebounds (20), field goals made (16) and attempted (24), while his blocks figure was matched by Pacers big man Isaiah Jackson.

As impressive as his performance was, Davis does hold one dubious NBA Cup record, as his four turnovers were also a game-high.

What happens to stats from the In-Season Tournament championship game?

Stats from the NBA In-Season Tournament Championship do not tabulate toward regular-season or NBA Playoffs stats, but stand alone as stats compiled in the championship game.

This will be similar to stats from the NBA's Play-In Tournament, which are also in a separate category.

The NBA In-Season Tournament Championship statistics will take longer to build out because it is only one game annually, while there are a total of six Play-In Tournament games each season.

If either the Pacers or Lakers return to the NBA In-Season Tournament Championship next year — or a member of their team moves on to a different finalist next season — they'll add to that special stat category and begin to build out averages.

Davis' stats from the championship game may not technically count, but his performance will stand the test of time given how memorable it was.

MORE: NBA In-Season Tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team results

Anthony Davis In-Season Tournament championship stats

  • 41 minutes
  • 41 points
  • 20 rebounds
  • 5 assists
  • 4 blocks
  • 4 turnovers
  • 16-of-24 (66.7 percent) field goal shooting
  • 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) free throw shooting
Author(s)
Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.