After a season that included surgery on one knee, an injury to a shoulder and a disappointing 30-52 record, Anthony Davis was back on the court for the first day of training camp and told John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he feels explosive and ready for the 2016-17 season:
”I feel great and I’m just happy to be out there,” Davis said. ”I love the game so much that it started to be frustrating when I couldn’t play or they pull you out. The main goal is to be ready for October 26 (opener against Denver).
”Right now, I think I’m heading in the right direction toward getting there. Today everything felt great. I feel like I’m more explosive than what I was and more powerful.”
For the remainder of training camp, Davis said he intends to concentrate on improving his defensive play. The Pelicans’ preseason opener is next Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks in Bossier City. Until then, the Pelicans have eight more two-a-day training camp practices.
”He’s (Davis) playing great, he feels great,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. ”’There’s a lot of enthusiasm and they practiced extremely hard. I think there is great chemistry among them. Obviously the defense is always a little bit ahead of the offense, so typical stuff really.”