Second-greatest player in the history of each NBA franchise
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis
Greatest Player: Chris Paul
Anthony Davis never really was able to fully reroute the direction of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise with just two playoff appearances across seven seasons, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
Following his first pro season after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2012, Davis never missed an All-Star Game, a string of six straight appearances.
He averaged 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in his seven Pelicans seasons. A three-time blocks champion, AD also made three All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams with an All-Star MVP trophy thanks to a record 52 points.
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The Pelicans suffered a four-game sweep to the eventual champion Warriors in Davis’ playoff debut in 2015 but flipped the script three years later in a truly remarkable second run for one of the game’s premier talents.
Matched up with the three-seeded Blazers, Davis went for 33.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.8 steals per game, upsetting Portland in a four-game sweep.
A five-game defeat at the hands of the defending and once again eventual champion Dubs marked the end of the peak of the Davis era before a trade request the following season eventually landed Davis in Los Angeles.