ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has torn into Anthony Davis after LeBron James made history on Saturday night.

The 56-year-old sportscaster fumed the Los Angeles Lakers star had failed to “show up” in the 124-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

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Stephen A. Smith has called out Anthony Davis after the Lakers’ latest lossCredit: ABC

Davis scored 17 points as the Lakers fell short against the Denver NuggetsCredit: Getty

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LeBron James reached 40,000 career NBA points in the gameCredit: Getty
Davis scored 17 points in the loss and was outshined by the Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic.

Smith joined Malika Andrews and fellow analyst Kendrick Perkins on NBA Countdown to discuss the Lakers’ defeat on their home court.

LeBron reached the magic 40,000 NBA points barrier during the contest – but Stephen A. wasted no time in laying into Davis.

“Can I switch gears and go in a different direction? Because I’m quite disgusted,” Smith said live on ABC.

“Opening Night, the Lakers open the season, they lose to the Nuggets.

“The night that Kobe’s statue is revealed, they lose that night.

“Tonight, LeBron James surpasses 40,000 points, the only player in NBA history to ever do it. They lose that game.

“It seems like in the big moments, the Lakers don’t measure up.

“If you are the Los Angeles Lakers and you’ve got championship aspirations, the big boy [Anthony Davis], who is an All-Star and a superstar talent in this game has to show up and give me a little bit extra.

“[Especially] when that other superstar Jokic – who is the reigning, defending NBA champion – when that brother shows up.

“I didn’t see that tonight. And I don’t like it.”

Jokic sunk 35 points for the Nuggets, as well as collecting 10 rebounds and supplying 7 assists.

James top-scored for the Lakers with 26 points, with Davis going 7-13 from the field and 0-0 from 3-point range.

“I said ‘You ain’t gonna stop Jokic,’ which didn’t happen,” continued Stephen A.

“But what you have to do if you’re Anthony Davis is nullify what he gives you by making sure you give the same.

“You can’t have Nikola Jokić dropping 35 and answering with 17. You just can’t do it.”

The Lakers are currently 10th in the Western Conference.

Saturday’s loss drops them back to 33-29 on the regular NBA season.

Davis averages 25 points per game so far this campaign, along with 12.3 rebounds and 55.8 percent shooting from the field.

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Smith felt Nuggets center Nikola Jokic had outshone Davies on the night