High Brow Potential

Already considered one of the league’s best, Pelicans’ Anthony Davis being mentioned with NBA legends

The New Orleans Pelicans are potentially sitting on a goldmine of a franchise player. In his third NBA season, Anthony Davis is already being described at one best players in the league with the potential to be included among the game’s legends. The first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by New Orleans, Davis won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Last season, he became an NBA All-Star and led the league in blocked shots per game.

Davis is capable of dominating on both offensive and defensive halves of the court. He’s an exciting player to watch, and has the ability, by himself, to put fans in the stands and make cash registers ring at souvenir and concession stands. In a recent ESPN the magazine poll, he was voted the third best player in the NBA, behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. In 67 games last season, Davis averaged 20.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. And, at 21, he’s not expected to begin to enter his prime for four more years.

“Davis has got the kind of talent where you could see him someday win an MVP award and a Defensive Player of the Year award in the same year,” ESPN NBA writer Brian Windhorst said recently. “LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are all star wing players. It’s much more rare to find a dominating star big man. Anthony Davis is the next dominating star big man in the NBA.”

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At 6 feet 10 inches, with a wingspan of 7 feet 5.5 inches, Davis, dubbed “The Brow” for his unconventional unibrow,  is poised to become a New Orleans basketball superstar on the level of, if not better than, Pete Maravich and Chris Paul. He has already been featured in ads for national companies, including Nike, Footlocker and 2KSports NBA2K15 video game. He is entering the last of his three-year $16 million guaranteed rookie contract. He’s got a giant payday coming. And much like the Saints and Drew Brees, the Pelicans will go as far as Davis can take them.

            With newly-added 7-foot center Omer Asik and 6’10” forward Ryan Anderson, the Pelican’s front court should be much improved. Add in guards Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday and forward Tyreke Evans and the Pelicans have a formidable front. If they can stay healthy, NBA analysts are saying the team may earn as many as 10 more wins this season compared to last year’s 34-38 record, resulting in a playoff berth.

In the opening game of the season, a 101-84 rout of the Orlando Magic, Davis was a blocked shot away from a triple-double. He scored 26 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and tied a career high with nine blocks. He added three steals, two assists, one foul and zero turnovers in 36 minutes of play. One game in and he’s being listed as a candidate as the NBA’s MVP.

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