After LeBron James, one would be hard-pressed to name a more dominant NBA player than Anthony Davis.
The New Orleans Pelicans definitely realize that and wrapped up their franchise center with a five-year, $145 million contract extension agreement just past midnight early Wednesday morning, as reported by ESPN. The extension will begin with the 2016-17 season, making Davis the highest-paid player in the league with a salary of $29 million per season, unless someone—like a King James—signs a bigger contract.
There's no doubting what a force the 6-10, 220-pound 22-year-old power forward has been, averaging a ridiculous 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game last season and putting the Pelicans on his back with an eighth-seed playoff berth.
Although his Pelicans were swept in their first-round series by MVP Stephen Curry and the eventual-NBA champion Golden State Warriors, Davis made his first postseaon more than memorable. That's because, he joined the Hall of Fame likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob McAdoo as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in their first four playoff games.
''I just think he's one of those special players that comes along once every 25 or 30 years,'' new Pelicans coach and former Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry told ESPN about Davis. ''He's got a chance to be Tim Duncan. He's got a chance to be Kevin Garnett. He's got a chance to be one of those special players, and I think when you have a foundation of a great player like that, then I think you got something special.''
Although both Davis and the Pelicans reached the contract agreement, papers can't be formally signed until July 9, according to league rules.
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