Anthony Davis Injury: Updates on Pelicans Star's Chest and Return
Pelicans star Anthony Davis suffered a chest contusion on Friday night. He missed Sunday's game and will play in Tuesday's game vs. Utah.
Continue for updates.
Davis Will Play vs. Jazz
Tuesday, Dec. 16
After being ruled questionable on Monday, Anthony Davis will play when the Pelicans take on the Utah Jazz, via Nakia Hogan of NOLA.com.
Davis Questionable vs. Utah
Monday, Dec. 15
Jody Genessy of the Deseret News provides an update on Anthony Davis' status for Tuesday's game against the Jazz:
Davis Out For Sunday's Game vs. Golden State
Sunday, Dec. 14
John Reid of NOLA.com reported that Anthony Davis' status is out for Sunday's game vs. Golden State.
Reid later passed along an update from Monty Williams on Davis' chest:
Davis OK After Contusion, Questionable Sunday
Saturday, Dec. 13
The Associated Press provided an update on Davis' status for Sunday (via ESPN):
"New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against Golden State because of a chest contusion that forced him from Friday night's victory over Cleveland.
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Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports has an update on Davis' status:
Davis Injures Chest vs. Cavs
Friday, Dec. 12
New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis is quickly becoming one of the NBA's marquee players, but the third-year pro now finds himself on the shelf.
Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com reported Davis sustained a chest contusion in the first quarter against the Cavaliers on Friday night:
Davis would not return to the game, though the Pelicans would hang on to beat the Cavaliers 119-114, despite a 41-point night from LeBron James.
Jennifer Hale of Fox Sports provides more details on the injury:
Davis was named to the Western Conference's All-Star team last season in just his second NBA campaign, and he finished with averages of 20.8 points, 10 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. Davis accomplished that feat by playing much of the year as a 20-year-old, and he is now already an elite player at just 21, as pointed out by former Pelicans guard Pierre Jackson:
"Anthony Davis only 21 that's scary ! Lol
— Pierre Jackson (@PAPPYGAWD) October 20, 2014"
New Orleans boasts a ton of talent with the likes of Ryan Anderson, Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon, Jrue Holiday and others making up one of the best up-and-coming teams in basketball. When push comes to shove, though, Davis is undoubtedly the go-to guy.
That much was evident entering the season as Davis was tabbed by general managers as the most likely candidate to enjoy a breakthrough campaign, per Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com:
There is no question that Davis was proving that 29.6 percent correct up to this point, but he must now show that he is capable of overcoming adversity.
Davis has dealt with injuries before as he missed a total of 33 games over his first two seasons in the NBA; however, he managed to bounce back each time. Based on the unbelievable skill set he brings to the table, one can only assume that he will repeat that feat.
If he doesn't, then the Pelicans won't have much success moving forward. Davis is an integral figure on both ends of the floor, and he is arguably one of the best all-around players in the NBA.
The 6'10" big man was heralded as a top-notch defender entering the league due to his impressive length, but he was also considered a work in progress on the offensive end. According to Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey, that progression has come faster and more furiously than many could have ever imagined:
Every indication is that Davis will continue to get better and better, but injuries have been known to prevent elite talents from reaching their fullest potential before. It wouldn't be fair to slap the injury-prone label on Davis quite yet since he is still a young player, although the concerns are certainly starting to mount.
In addition to the ailments that Davis dealt with during his first two NBA seasons, the rising star entered the 2014-15 campaign a bit banged up as well.
Per Pelicans radio broadcaster Sean Kelley, Davis suffered a wrist injury during the preseason, but head coach Monty Williams downplayed it:
Big, physical players like Davis are bound to get banged around over the course of the long NBA season, but the Pelicans simply need him to avoid issues that could keep him out over the long term.
It remains to be seen how much time Davis will ultimately miss. Regardless of how long he is out, though, it will be a grind for the Pelicans as they try to win games without him.
Davis' absence will put the onus on other players to step up and shoulder the burden, which could make the Pelicans a better team as a whole moving forward. Even so, it is quite clear that New Orleans is at its best with "The Unibrow" wreaking havoc.
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