Will the NBA Ever Bow to the Brow?
Anthony Davis has proven himself ever since his days at the University of Kentucky that he will not be forgotten. Drafted number one pick in 2012 by the New Orleans Pelicans, it seems as if the man does not know how to stop. Throughout his career, Davis has averaged twenty-three points and ten rebounds per game and it is clear he will not be slowing down any time soon. He has even made five NBA all-star game appearances and was named the all-star game’s most valuable player in the 2016-2017 season. Even though Davis is only 25 years old and is already known as the best big man in the league, will he ever be known as the best overall player in the NBA?
First and foremost, Anthony Davis is a freak of nature. Starting as a point guard his sophomore year in high school at 6’2”, he grew eight more inches within eighteen months while retaining his skills as a guard. This gave him the incredible edge that has led to his success in the NBA. Standing at 6’10” with a 7’0” wingspan, the man has unlimited potential. At the age of 25 Davis is already at top tier level with players such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant and it is clear that he is only getting better. Ever since he was drafted, Davis has increased in points per game, rebounds per game, and field goal percentage dramatically. In the league today it is a fact that the role of big men in the NBA has changed. Not too long ago, centers and power forwards were meant to stay low in the post and muscle their way to the basket. Although that is still a crucial part to their game, big men have had to make the transition into more skill based basketball and Davis got a head start.
With the league moving toward this more skill based level of basketball, big men like Dwight Howard and Deandre Jordan have missed their opportunity for development. However, Davis is already ahead of the rest of the league’s big men and he hasn’t even scratched the surface. An increasingly unstoppable mid-range game coupled with incredible finishing around the rim is just the beginning of his game. Over the years Davis has also increased his three-point percentage as that is critical to develop in today’s game especially with super teams such as the Golden State Warriors. Although it is sad for me to see that teams are relying more and more on the three-point arch each year, it has not been a hard transition for Davis to make. He is already at a 36% three-point percentage and it can only get better with time and practice.
Although it is hard to know which player will develop more appropriately in the future, things look promising for the beloved unibrow. With point guard ball handling and an improving offensive game Anthony Davis could possibly be the best player in the league in a short amount of time. It is honestly unfair to see someone with that kind of length having near perfected every facet of his game already at 25 years old. If Davis can stay healthy and keeps wanting to improve his game then the league need to be careful because he sees that number one spot in the distance, and he’s coming to get it.
