Anthony Davis’ Journey Year to His Fourth All-Star Game
By Eddie Chan
New Orleans’ Pelicans’ superstar Anthony Davis has had quite an interesting road to get to his fourth All-Star Game Appearance in his career.
When in doubt, count on Anthony Davis to be amazing.
The New Orleans Pelicans and its fans have not had a whole lot to celebrate this season, as they now sit with a 21-33 record.
With their hopes of making the playoffs now dissolving, perhaps the only time the Smoothie King Center will have its high-energy crowd will be when it hosts the upcoming NBA All-Star game.
And you can bet it will be loud, each time Anthony Davis makes a play.
Davis will represent the Pelicans alone, in front of the New Orleans home crowd in the All-Star Game. Although he may not need to travel far, the journey to his fourth All-Star appearance has been admirable nevertheless.
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Last season was a disappointing campaign for Davis, with the team finishing 12th in the standings. The Pelicans ended the season without Davis, after deactivating him, citing it as a season-ending injury.
Davis missed 21 games due to injuries to his left knee and a torn labrum in his shoulder. The shoulder injury is one he has been battling since his rookie year.
During the offseason, he would go through medical treatment for both injuries. He ultimately ended up missing the 2016 Summer Olympics. Still, it gave him the necessary time to heal and prepare mentally for the new season.
When the 2016-2017 NBA season began, Davis showed he was finally healthy. He exploded onto the scoring sheet, averaging 36.5 points and 12 rebounds in the first month. That included a 50-point game against the Nuggets and a 45-point game against the Warriors.
Anthony was also without Jrue Holiday to start the season, who ended up returning on November 18th. Davis carried a heavier burden, but was shy in displaying any distress after finishing the month averaging 31.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 51.9% FG. Additionally, he was awarded Player of the Week on November 21st, 2016.
Since then, Davis undoubtedly continues to lead the team in nearly every major scoring category. That includes points, rebounds, blocks and field-goal percentage. However, he also consistently ranks the top 10 in categories within the entire league: sixth in points with 27.6; sixth in rebounds with 12.1; and third in blocks with 2.5.
To top that all off, he leads the league among all big men with six games scoring 40-plus points; he trails Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who are both ahead of him with eight games.
However, what should be considered most impressive this season for Davis is the fact these numbers have been amassed through a myriad of difficult shot making and aggressive opposing defenses.
Week after week, it has hardly become uncommon seeing highlight-reel plays from Davis. From his satin-silky jump shots, to his “get-out-of-my-way” flushes at the rim. No matter the obstacle, he has found the bottom of the bucket on one end and fly-swapping-type blocks on the other.
Needless to say, Davis’ journey year to his fourth All-Star appearance has been All-Star worthy, despite the Pelicans’ struggle as a whole. He continues to prove his place among his peers, specifically as a freakishly-athletic big man.
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He will be able to showcase those talents in this year’s Taco Bell Skills Challenge during All-Star weekend as well. For New Orleans, this is their time to see the man who has battled so much get his time under his city lights to shine. For Anthony Davis, it has been hard fought and well earned. Nothing left to do now but turn the lights on and give him center stage in the Bayou.