Denton: Davis Almost Fully Healed From Foot Injury

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton April 10, 2013

ORLANDO – Clutching a flask of dark green liquid that he said was a part of his ``pre-cleanse,’’ Orlando Magic forward Glen ``Big Baby’’ Davis pronounced himself thinner and getting closer to being fully healed from the broken foot that ended his season.

Davis is out of the cast and walking boot that he was forced to wear the last six weeks after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left foot on Jan. 30 in New York. Davis has been attempting to slim down from his 290-pound frame to take some of the pressure off his foot.

``(The foot) feels great and it feels like I could play, but I’m not going to play,’’ Davis said with a laugh. ``I’ve been swimming, running and working out. I’ve been doing a lot of yoga and hot yoga and the sauna.

``As far as basketball, I’ve just been backtracking about what I learned this year, things that I could have done better and now I understand the leadership role in terms of what I need to do every day,’’ Davis continued. ``It’s been a good experience other than being hurt. It’s put me in a good place mentally.’’

Davis, who was picked as a co-captain before the season, evolved into a team leader on and off the floor. He got off to a fast start, helping the Magic race to a 12-13 start before he separated his left shoulder following a hard foul from Washington’s Emeka Okafor. He returned from that injury only to break his foot in the first quarter of the Jan. 30 game in New York.

In 34 games, Davis averaged career highs in points (15.1 ppg.), rebounds (7.2 rpg.), assists (2.1 apg.) and minutes (31.3). He led the Magic in scoring 11 times and led the team in rebounding 10 times.

Davis said he’s never been away from basketball this long and it’s been a struggle at times to occupy his mind without the structure of the NBA. He’s turned to ``hot yoga,’’ which involves stretching exercises in a temperature-controlled room, as a way to become more flexible and disciplined.

``There are times when I panic and think about what’s going on in my life. But I’ve been trying to find ways to keep my mind stimulated,’’ he said. ``(Yoga) is difficult for a big man, especially if he’s not flexible. Especially when you are in a room that’s hot.

You have to really focus on what you are trying to do. I understand of being mindful of what’s going on at the moment. Sometimes you worry how hot it is instead of what you are in there for and it helps me. In basketball, if things aren’t going right, you make a change. As leaders you have to be mindful at a lot of things. If I’ve worked on anything, it’s being in the moment.’’

Davis, 27, said he hopes to be back on the basketball court in May when he can start preparing for next season. And he hopes to be back out there as someone who is lighter and more nimble on his feet. He wouldn’t say how much weight he’s lost, but said he’s challenging himself to drop some pounds by the end of the regular season when he will once again weigh himself.

``Just being cautious, May, since I’m a heavy dude trying to get light and keep the pressure off my foot,’’ he said. ``I’m trying to make sure that I don’t add any more pressure on my foot.’’

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