Fansided

Selecting the 2014-15 All-NBA Teams

By Brad Rowland

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) defends the shot by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) defends the shot by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) against the Memphis Grizzlies during the third quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Grizzlies 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) against the Memphis Grizzlies during the third quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Grizzlies 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Forward – Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis is often referred to as the “next” great NBA superstar. The problem with that statement is that he is already an NBA superstar by any discernible measure.

Davis played the 2014-2015 NBA season at the ages of 21 and 22, but youthful exuberance did not keep him from producing one of the best seasons in the league. In fact, Davis led the NBA in PER (30.8), total blocks (200), blocks per game (2.9) and two-point field goals (641) with the extra nod of impressiveness given that he achieved the lead in “counting” categories while playing in only 69 games.

For a snapshot, Davis averaged 24.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in addition to those defensive and advanced statistics. Throw in a 53.5% clip from the field and a wildly important 80.5% from the free throw line, and he is a player with no clear weakness.

It is fair to say that Anthony Davis is a touch overrated defensively as a result of his massive blocked shot numbers, but he has the tools to be an absolute terror on that end, and with age, that will come. Offensively, he is the focal point of everything that the Pelicans do, and even with those missed games, Davis was able to lead New Orleans to the playoffs for the first time in his young career.

Perhaps casual NBA fans don’t have a picture of just how good Anthony Davis is at this early stage of his career, but they will find out soon enough. He’s already arrived.

Next: Marc Gasol