Baron Davis Reportedly Signs NBA D-League Contract
Former NBA All-Star point guard Baron Davis has reportedly signed a contract to join the NBA Development League, according to Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports.
Marc Stein of ESPN indicated the Texas Legends are not interested in Davis at this time:
On Jan. 12, Spears revealed Davis' plans to go to the D-League, citing the veteran floor general's agent, Todd Ramasar, as the source.
Davis will evidently have to prove himself a step below the NBA before he gets a chance to suit up at the highest level again. The 36-year-old last played in the NBA for the New York Knicks in 2012.
Jared Zwerling of the National Basketball Players Association had lunch with Davis in August and reported the latter was serious about an NBA comeback. At the time, Davis indicated he felt he could play approximately 20 minutes per contest.
The Charlotte Hornets chose Davis third overall in the 1999 NBA draft, but he made his biggest splash following his third regular season with the Golden State Warriors.
During the 2007 playoffs, Davis helped the eighth-seeded Warriors pull off an improbable opening-round upset over the heavily favored Dallas Mavericks. Davis averaged 25.3 points per game that postseason.
Golden State narrowly missed the playoffs the next year, and Davis went on to play for the Los Angeles Clippers for two-and-a-half seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers for 15 games and the Knicks thereafter for a brief stint.
The initial conclusion to Davis' career was a sad one. He was stretchered off the floor in Madison Square Garden after tearing his right ACL and MCL and partially tearing his right patellar tendon in an opening-round playoff win over the Miami Heat.
It's clear Davis wants to finish his time on the hardwood on less ominous terms.
Whether he has the quickness and is in good enough shape to compete in the NBA at this juncture is unclear. At least Davis appears to have the competitive desire to give it a shot, and he has the talent to have a successful comeback.
