New Orleans Pelicans: 30 greatest players in franchise history
69. . PF/C. (2012-Present). Anthony Davis. 1. player
Anthony Davis will go down as the all-time greatest player in Hornets/Pelicans franchise history, though his stay was cut short on his own terms. In seven seasons, Davis has emerged as one of the top two-way big men in the league.
The Pelicans drafted him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft fresh off a national title run with the Kentucky Wildcats. Davis didn’t win NBA Rookie of the Year, but he emerged as an All-Rookie performer in 2012-13 after producing 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals per contest.
In his second season, Davis really elevated his game, averaging 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and a league-best 2.8 blocks per game. It’s the first of three blocks per game titles Davis has racked up. He also made the first of six straight NBA All-Star Game appearances with New Orleans.
He’s slowly become a franchise player in New Orleans, notching a career-high 59 points during the 2015-16 NBA season against the Detroit Pistons back on Feb. 21, 2016.
This past season, despite turmoil due to trade rumors, he snagged a career-high 26 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 6, 2019.
He’s one of the best big men in the NBA today and has shown it with his efficiency and shot-blocking ability. He’s averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.1 steals per contest through his 466 career games.
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The Pelicans will look to move him this offseason, preferably before the 2019 NBA Draft. Either way, his contributions as their best player have been hard to ignore.