Roughly 5 1/2 months after undergoing a procedure on his left knee that ended his 2015-16 season, three-time All-Star power forward Anthony Davis has been cleared for basketball activity. Davis scrimmaged for the first time on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old has added some strength to his frame and now weighs 250 pounds, up more than 30 pounds from his rookie season of 2012-13.
Other updates on the Pelicans, with Media Day taking place in just over two weeks, on Sept. 23:
- Small forward Quincy Pondexter, who missed the entire 2015-16 season following knee surgery, reached a key step in his rehabilitation process Wednesday, going through live drills in the practice facility. His timetable to return to action is uncertain, with it possible that he could miss the early part of the regular seaon, or be able to play when preseason games begin Oct. 1.
- Center Alexis Ajinca has been praised by the Pelicans’ staff for his dedication this summer to improving individually. Many of the Pelicans joined Davis and Jrue Holiday in Los Angeles for workouts starting Aug. 15, but Ajinca arrived there two weeks prior to get an early start. Ajinca, who has been working with a track coach in the offseason, and Omer Asik will be in competition for the starting center spot.