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NBA Player Power Rankings: 2017 All-Star Weekend Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) fights for position with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) fights for position with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 15, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and head coach Alvin Gentry talk during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. New Orleans defeated Memphis 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and head coach Alvin Gentry talk during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. New Orleans defeated Memphis 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Position: Power Forward
Age: 23 (3/11/1993)
Experience: 5th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .504/.306/.801
2016-17 Season Averages: 36.4 MPG, 27.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.2 ORPG, 2.2 APG, 2.5 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 3PM

If ever the day comes when the New Orleans Pelicans have a healthy and balanced roster, Anthony Davis will solidify his legacy. Even at 23 years of age, he’s already an All-NBA First Team player who’s averaging Dream-like numbers.

That may sound hyperbolic, but Davis is indeed on pace to record averages the NBA hasn’t seen since Hakeem Olajuwon was dominating in 1993-94.

If his numbers hold, Davis would be the first player to average at least 27.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steal per game since Olajuwon. Before Olajuwon, those numbers hadn’t been accumulated since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 1975-76.

Any time a player is producing in a way that’s comparable to Abdul-Jabbar and Olajuwon in their respective primes, they deserve a Top 10 ranking.

New Orleans is still attempting to find its identity as a team, but it’s been quietly thriving. It’s won three of four, as well as four of six, and Davis has it within 2.5 games of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

It may be an ugly season at the bottom of the postseason standings, but Davis is as deserving of a postseason appearance as any player on a below .500 team could be.