Boston's Glen Davis Makes the Jump From Big Baby To Adult

Through two games in the young NBA season, one thing is apparent: Glen Davis has finally grown up.  Always considered a raw talent off the Boston Celtics bench, Davis has expanded his game, showcasing greater outside shooting, while still being a forceful component underneath the hoop.

Questions surrounding his maturity level and conditioning have always been on the minds of Celtics Fans, as Davis has had to play under the microscope since being drafted out of LSU in the 2007 NBA draft.  But those questions will soon disappear.

Enter Davis’ offseason adjustments to the fold.  Big Baby has added a fall away jumper that he’s shown off already.  This combined with his improving ability to take a charge and ability to rip down offensive boards has only helped him become the Celtics new sixth man.

His conditioning has also been much improved.  Davis spent the summer in Las Vegas working out at Impact Basketball, noted for its work with everyone from NBA All-Stars to recently drafted rookies.  He also spent the summer honing his mixed martial arts skills and cardiovascular work while in Nevada. 

During the season, Davis will continue to visit the Wai Kru gym in Allston, MA, home of the UFC’s John Howard.  Paul Pierce even recently noted to Comcast Sports that he thought Big Baby was in the best shape of his life.

Going into the season, the Celtics had a pressing need for Davis to step up his game.  Kendrick Perkins is on the shelf for quite some time.  Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal are both grizzled veterans at this point in their careers and cannot perform at the level fans have become accustomed to.  So the need for Davis to chip in at his highest level to date is apparent.

He initially questioned his role at the end of September, but those questions appear to have been cleared up now that Baby was first off the bench in Cleveland last night.

Look for Glen Davis to become a much more important player for the Celtics this season as he continues to develop into a more well-rounded player that will be a force off the bench as the season wears on.