Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-time All-Star big man, received some sharp criticism from an unexpected source following a near disaster in Saturday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Davis struggled throughout the night, finishing with just 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting—one of his lowest-scoring performances of the season.
The tension peaked in the final seconds, with the Lakers clinging to a 101-99 lead. Davis stepped to the free-throw line but missed both critical foul shots, potentially leaving the door open for the Kings to steal the game.
However, teammate Rui Hachimura came to the rescue, tapping out the rebound after Davis’ second miss. This allowed the Lakers to regain possession and seal the 103-99 victory with two additional free throws.
After the game, Davis revealed during his media session that his wife, Marlen Polanco Davis, wasn’t about to let him off the hook for his performance.
“My wife even called me and said, ‘Rui saved you,’” Davis admitted, as reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “So that made me feel worse.”
RELATED: Anthony Davis Throws Shade at Rudy Gobert with Defensive Player of the Year Remarks
Anthony and Marlen, who tied the knot in 2021, share three children together. Their close bond often shines through on social media, where Davis occasionally shares glimpses of their family life. However, it’s clear Marlen isn’t afraid to hold her husband accountable—even when it comes to his basketball performance.
Davis’ struggles from the free-throw line have been a recurring issue over the years. Just a month ago, on November 21, he missed two crucial foul shots late in a game against the Orlando Magic, paving the way for Franz Wagner to sink a game-winning three-pointer.
While Saturday’s misses didn’t prove as costly, they were another reminder of the challenges Davis has faced in clutch moments.
For the Lakers, who have already endured their fair share of ups and downs this season, consistency from Davis will be crucial as they aim to remain competitive in a tightly contested Western Conference.
As for Marlen, her honest feedback may be exactly what Davis needs to stay focused and perform under pressure.
