Anthony Davis was nothing short of extraordinary in just his third season in the NBA last year. He’s been improving upon each season, and his growth is astounding. Davis has vaulted himself into the conversation of the top players in the NBA, and now Shaquille O’Neal is saying that he’s the best power forward in the league.
Getting this kind of praise from one of the best big men in NBA history is a huge moment. A lot of older players who play very long careers don’t even get this kind of praise, and Davis is getting it after just his third season. The scary part is that Davis hasn’t even reached his full potential yet, and Shaq is taking notice by telling his son, Shareef(see some of his highlights here), to model his game after the Pelicans big man.
Via the New Orleans Times-Picayune‘s John Reid:
”I told him to watch Anthony because he’s probably going to be the same height and have the same type of build,” said O’Neal, who returned to Baton Rouge to host his annual annual LSU Life Skills Golf Classic at Carter Plantation on Friday in Springfield. ”Not skinny, but long.
”He’s (Davis) probably the best at that position. He can run, rebound, dominate take over games. He’s going to do his thing this year.”
Shaq wasn’t the only one to throw some compliments toward Davis. One of Davis’ newest teammates, Kendrick Perkins, also had some very high praise for the Kentucky Alum. Perkins has played with his fair share of great players, and he thinks that Davis has shades of Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett in his game.
Perkins claims that the way Davis plays and his build are very similar to that of Kevin Garnett, while his off-the-court personality is right in line with Kevin Durant. Both of those qualities are great to have. Garnett, going into his 21st season, was one of the most electrifying players in his prime, and he will always be remembered for his fiery, competitive attitude on the court. Anthony Davis has certainly showed that he has the heart of a competitor, and his play on the court easily lives up to all the hype. I don’t know him personally, but he also does seem like a nice guy when he’s off the court. He has a pet monkey, so he has to be at least somewhat of a cool guy.
This year will be known as the year of Anthony Davis, you can quote me on that. He will not stop his ascendence in the NBA until he’s on the level of Michael Jordan on Space Jam. The real question is…are you ready to see it?
