NBA Finals

Jim Eichenhofer

Normally, Anthony Davis is on the receiving end of assists from point guard Tim Frazier, but during Davis’ appearance Wednesday on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the four-time All-Star revealed that the tables are sometimes reversed, due to Davis’ clothing sponsorship deal with Saks Fifth Avenue.

The 24-year-old grinned while telling the story of how Frazier will sometimes go into Saks stores, peruse the merchandise, then send photos on his phone to Davis, explaining which items he wants Davis to procure for free.

“I’m like, ‘Dude, we make millions of dollars!’ ” a laughing Davis told Kimmel of his retort to Frazier when Davis receives those requests. “(Frazier) goes into the store, looks around and sends me a picture, saying, ‘I want this one.’ So I’m like, ‘Buy it!’ Which is pretty funny.”

At the outset of his visit with Kimmel, the ABC host surprised Davis by bringing out a giant ruler, in order to verify Davis’ height.

“According to me, I’m 6-10,” Davis explained. “Before every season, we get measured by our strength coach. When you’re 6-11, I feel like you have to play center. I don’t like playing center. I like to stick to power forward, so (I) round down.”

Kimmel’s official ruling came in at 6-11, but Davis doesn’t have much to worry about, because after the acquisition of 6-11 DeMarcus Cousins in February, the Pelicans have another perennial All-Star who often handles a bigger share of in-the-paint responsibilities.

With Kimmel’s show airing following Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Davis denied having a rooting interest in the series, but noted that his closest friends on the respective teams are Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and Golden State’s Klay Thompson.

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Jimmy Kimmel confirms, among other things, that Anthony Davis is 6-11

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Coach Alvin Gentry celebrates his NBA title

Minutes after Golden State wrapped up the 2015 NBA championship late Tuesday night, Steve Kerr saw a TV camera in his team’s locker room and half-jokingly asked assistant Alvin Gentry to deliver a message back to New Orleans, where Gentry will take over as head coach in 2015-16. On live TV, a laughing Kerr may not have expected what came next out of Gentry’s mouth.

“Hey AD, AD, we’re going to be right back here (in the NBA Finals)!” a grinning, champagne-drenched Gentry said to Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis, directly into an NBA TV camera. “We’re going to be right back here, OK? This is where we’re coming! Alright.”

Kerr’s reaction was just as entertaining as Gentry’s mini-speech.

“You’re not on the staff anymore,” Kerr joked, pretending to gesture to have Gentry removed from the locker room. “Security! Take him out of here!”

The playful exchange also included a reference to upcoming games next season between the defending NBA champion Warriors and the Gentry-led Pelicans.

“We’re going to kick the Pelicans’ (butts) next year,” Kerr said earlier.

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Alvin Gentry delivers message to Anthony Davis and Pelicans from championship locker room

New Orleans fans don’t appear to have an obvious rooting interest in the 2015 NBA Finals, but in an odd way, the outcome of the Golden State-Cleveland series will still have a minor impact on the Pelicans. That’s because Alvin Gentry’s tenure as New Orleans head coach can technically begin only after the NBA Finals are completed.

Gentry, the current associate head coach for the Warriors, is expected to hold his introductory press conference in New Orleans after the conclusion of the Finals. The Warriors-Cavaliers series could end June 11 at the earliest – in the unlikely event of a 4-0 sweep – but could go as deep as June 19 if it requires a Game 7.

New Orleans owns a second-round pick in the June 25 NBA Draft, the 56th overall selection. After that, the next major date on the offseason calendar is July 1, when free agency opens. NBA teams may begin officially signing free agents a week later when the moratorium period ends. The Pelicans’ game participation in Las Vegas summer league will begin on or around July 10.

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Alvin Gentry introduction as Pelicans coach to come post-NBA Finals

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