NBA Player Power Rankings: Stars Getting Hot at Perfect Time
Honorable Mention: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Last Rank: No. 6
Position: Power Forward
Age: 23
Slash Line: .493/.324/.758
Season Averages: 35.5 MPG, 24.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.1 ORPG, 1.9 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 3PM
With the resume Anthony Davis has built, it’s easy to forget that he’s only 23 years old—an age he turned on March 11. One of the most statistically prolific players of our time is just that, however, and that’s what makes the following news so disappointing.
As for why he’s only an honorable mention, Davis will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 NBA regular season.
This is a major setback for Davis, but it may not be as costly as it seems. It’s since been revealed that Davis has been playing with a torn labrum for three years, which means this surgery was both long-awaited and beyond necessary.
More importantly, it makes what he’s accomplished in those three years even more impressive.
At 23 years old, Davis is already a three-time All-Star with an All-NBA First Team appearance to his name. There are clearly flaws that must be addressed, and assuming he’ll come back as the same player he was is quite the assumption to make.
Davis would clearly be ranked in the Top 10 if not for the injury, but one should be encouraged by the fact that he scored 19 points in 14 minutes in his final appearance.
Next: Vintage