Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 15 best draft picks of all-time

By John Buhler

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 24: New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul #3 looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on March 24, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The New Orleans won 121-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 24: New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul #3 looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on March 24, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The New Orleans won 121-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Unless he gets traded before the start of the 2018-19 NBA season, power forward/center Anthony Davis will get to extend his lead as the greatest draft pick in New Orleans history. The Hornets took the one-and-done out of the University of Kentucky with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Davis was coming off a national championship season in Lexington. New Orleans was devastated by the Chris Paul trade. This seemed like a match made in heaven.

Davis made the All-Rookie first team in 2012-13, but he was just getting started. As a second-year player in 2013-14, Davis made his first of five straight Western Conference All-Star rosters. So far in his budding hall of fame career, Davis has made three All-NBA first team rosters, three All-Defensive teams, led the league in blocks three times and was named the All-Star Game MVP in 2017.

However until this past season, playoff success had evaded The Brow. He might have one eyebrow, but did not have a playoff victory to his résumé before this spring. No, not a playoff series victory, a win in a single game. Borderline unbelievable given his undeniable talent. It has to be the brow. Even without a healthy DeMarcus Cousins, Davis led the Pelicans to a first-round sweep of the favored Portland Trail Blazers before succumbing to the reigning champion Golden State Warriors. It happens.

Next: New Orleans Pelicans: All-time starting five

It remains to be seen if Davis will win his first NBA MVP. He is a finalist, along with LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and frontrunner James Harden of the Houston Rockets. Regardless, Davis has ascended to a top-three player in the league today behind only James and Kevin Durant of Golden State. Through six NBA seasons, Davis has averaged 23.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game in 34.8 minutes per contest. New Orleans basketball will go how he goes in the coming years. We cannot wait to see what Davis does now that he is firmly in his prime.