Associated Press
Anthony Davis is playing his first game as a 22-year-old on Sunday night against the visiting Denver Nuggets, yet it's hard to find anyone in the NBA who doesn't already view the third-year Pelicans power forward as a budding superstar.
Teammates say the youthful energy that fuels Davis' relentless, end-to-end game is part of what has made him so good, so soon. At the same time, they figure the two-time All-Star, who turned 22 on Wednesday, will only improve as he matures.
"He can run all day -- jump all day, too, obviously," said guard Norris Cole, who jokes that Davis is "definitely not a human being."
"His talent level is off the charts and he can still get better," Cole added. "That's the scary part."
By the time Davis played his last game as a 21-year-old Tuesday night -- just his 184th NBA contest -- he'd piled up 3,558 points, 1,740 rebounds and 450 blocked shots.
Only Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard had reached 3,500 points, 1,700 rebounds and 450 blocks at such an early age.
"He wants to be the best and you have to applaud that," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said after watching Davis put in extra work after practice this week. "There's so much left in his game to unwrap."
Davis' play is the main reason the Pelicans (36-29) are tied with Oklahoma City for the Western Conference's final playoff spot as they resume play after four days off.
"It's fun because now every game matters," said Davis, a former Kentucky star who has won a college national title, an Olympic gold medal and a FIBA World Cup, but has yet to experience the NBA playoffs. "Now you're like, `Ah, this is a big game. We've got to come out here and perform."
Performing hasn't been an issue for Davis, who averages team highs of 24.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks.
Three times this season, Davis has finished with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and a shooting percentage of 65 percent, something no other player -- of any age -- has done this season. He has also nearly reached double-digit blocks in a game several times, maxing out at nine.
"I've done quite a few things, but I think I'm nowhere near where I want to be," Davis said. "I have a lot to learn about the game, about myself."
In a victory at Milwaukee on Monday, Davis took over a tight game the way superstars do. After New Orleans fell behind with about 3 1/2 minutes left, Davis scored eight straight Pelicans points on jumpers of 20, 8 and 19 feet, and two free throws.
"That's what your go-to guy is supposed to do," Cole said. "He works on his game so that in those moments, there's no hesitation."
Williams, meanwhile, said he loves the fact that his best player's most animated celebrations seem to come after he's forced a turnover or assisted on a basket.
"He doesn't care who scores. That's why you can't help but love him," Williams said. "When a guy is out there diving on the floor, winning games for you with his defense, sharing the ball and happy to see someone else score, that's leadership."
Oddly, the Pelicans won the last meeting with Denver -- 99-92 on March 1 -- with Davis sidelined by a sprained shoulder after losing the first two this season when he played.
That loss to New Orleans turned out to be the last for the Nuggets (25-41) under coach Brian Shaw, who was fired and replaced by Melvin Hunt. The team has responded by going 5-2, including wins in its last three games.
"He's a great coach," forward Kenneth Faried said of Hunt.
Faried has averaged 16.1 points and 11.4 rebounds since Hunt took over, well above his season averages.
His 24 points and 17 boards keyed Friday's 114-103 win over Golden State, which was resting Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson among others.
Denver's Ty Lawson (illness) and Darrell Arthur (calf) missed that game, and it's unclear if they will return Sunday.