Although it came as no surprise, Anthony Davis made arguably the biggest splash on the opening day of free agency when he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans for the biggest contract in NBA history, a five-year deal worth a whopping $145 million. At just 22, the versatile big man is worth every penny, as he’s already established himself as one of the top five players in the league.
Last season, he averaged 24.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and, despite New Orleans being swept out of the first-round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, he put up one of the best individual performances of the entire postseason. He’s evolved into a dominant force on both ends of the floor and still has plenty of room for growth.
Next season, Alvin Gentry will take the head coaching reigns in New Orleans, and he’s already made it clear that he expects Davis to extend his range out beyond the three-point line.
Alvin Gentry told Anthony Davis, "I want you to continue to work and expand your range. You should be a good corner three-point shooter."
— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) June 23, 2015
If the recent workout video posted on Davis’ Facebook page is any indication, it appears he was listening. He was already a solid midrange shooter, making 46.3 percent of his shots from 10-15 feet last season. If he can transform into a consistent three-point threat, it’ll just provide more opportunities for him to throttle opponents as he takes over the league even faster than expected.
After Davis was done draining threes from every spot beyond the arc, he had some fun defending opponents better left to recreational YMCA leagues.
(via Facebook; Jim Eichenhofer)
