Lakers warned not to ‘pull garbage’ about concussion as he compares Anthony Davis to Tua Tagovailoa

Harvard-trained neuroscientist and former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski blasted reports that NBA star Anthony Davis had avoided a concussion Wednesday night when he warned the Lakers not to pull any garbage about player health.

Davis appeared to have accidentally taken a punch to the side of the head from Kevon Looney in Wednesday’s playoff loss to Golden State and was clearly uncomfortable sitting on the sidelines.

The Lakers star made his way to the locker room in a wheelchair after being taken off and appeared shaky on the television broadcast as he attempted to leave the field.

After the game, NBA reporter Chris Haynes seemed to offer Lakers fans a glimmer of hope for Game 6.

“Early diagnosis indicates Anthony Davis appears to have avoided a concussion and is doing much better now, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport,” he tweeted.

Head trauma expert Chris Nowinski warned LA not to pull any garbage on the player’s health

The former WWE wrestler slammed reports of Davis avoiding a concussion as a ‘joke’

But Nowinski, the co-founder and president of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, responded to the report, calling it a “joke,” as he drew comparisons to NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s multiple concussions during the last regular season.

‘Is this a joke? Please don’t try to pull this crap @Lakers,” Nowinski replied.

“We’ve seen what happened to Tua, we don’t need another example of a team trying to be cute about what a #concussion is. You can hurt AD. Explain the wheelchair to us without saying it had upset his balance.’

Miami Dolphins signal caller Tagovailoa entered concussion protocol twice last season, the first time coming four days after he was allowed to return to a game against Buffalo after appearing disoriented following a hit in Week 3.

He was carried off the field with a concussion in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals and suffered another concussion during the Dolphins’ loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day, causing him to miss the final three days of the regular season.

Questions had been raised over the decision to allow Tagovailoa to return during Week 3’s games and many expressed concern about the 24-year-old’s future in the league, with analyst Stephen A Smith claiming that his NFL career is in jeopardy.

Nowinksi reiterated his claims that Davis suffered a concussion Wednesday night and urged the Lakers to resist the temptation to rush the assailant back to court.

“Anthony Davis had a #concussion tonight,” he tweeted. Glad to see the team took it seriously and used a wheelchair to get him off the bench when he appeared to be complaining of vision problems at the end of this clip. Let’s hope he and the team docs withstand the pressure of the playoffs to return too soon.”

The Doctor also wants the Lakers to resist the temptation to rush the striker back to court

Davis was clearly uncomfortable after being knocked out in the fourth quarter of the playoff game

Nowinski drew comparisons to the concussion suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

Tagovailoa’s first concussion came in the second quarter against the Bills in September

The 24-year-old entered concussion protocol for the second time after a loss to the Packers

Others, however, did not share the same concern. Nowinski has expressed surprise with some analysts about Davis’s need for a wheelchair.

“Anthony Davis needed a wheelchair to go to the locker room???” asked ESPN First Take host Skip Bayless on social media.

The Lakers are about to be in big trouble as the pressure mounts toward a home game 6 they virtually need to win. Even with AD, I don’t think they can win a Game 7 at Golden State.’

Despite Nowinski’s concerns, the Lakers seemed optimistic about Davis returning for a crucial Game 6 against the Warriors.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham participated in his post-game press conference to assuage concerns, saying that he checked on Davis in the locker room and that he appeared to be fine.

“Obviously everyone saw him get shot in the head,” Ham said. “I just checked him in. He seems to be doing really well already.

“That’s where it is, that’s the status of it right now.”

Speaking to media, Ham had no further update on when he will find out more about how Davis is doing. “We just finished the game,” he said.

ESPN First Take host Skip Bayless seemed surprised that Davos needed a wheelchair

Lakers coach Darvin Ham (left) made a comment at his post-game press conference to allay concerns

McMenamin said that the Lakers’ Austin Davis said, “I believe he (Davis) will play” in Game 6 on Friday night.

Davis finished Wednesday with 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting, nine rebounds and three assists, but did not block a shot.

He averages 21.5 points in the playoffs and leads the postseason block stats with 3.4.

If Davis is unavailable Friday night, it will be a huge blow to the Lakers, who could close out the streak over the reigning NBA champions with a win.

Los Angeles, which led the series 3-2, lost Wednesday night’s showdown 121-106, leaving Steph Curry and Co. could go to Game 6 with a chance to tie the series and force an all-or-nothing Game 7.