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NBA Player Power Rankings: Stars Getting Hot at Perfect Time

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 17, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) greets Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) prior to their game at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) greets Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) prior to their game at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 20, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis sits on the bench during the first quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Smoothie King Center. It was announced prior to the game that Anthony Davis would miss the remainder of the season with a left knee injury. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis sits on the bench during the first quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Smoothie King Center. It was announced prior to the game that Anthony Davis would miss the remainder of the season with a left knee injury. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

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