Anthony Davis has already solidified himself as the heir apparent to LeBron James’ throne as the best player in the NBA, and now, the New Orleans Pelicans power forward is adding the three-point shot to his arsenal.
In an interview with SLAM magazine, Davis said he won’t be passive from downtown, either.
“I’m going to mix it up. I love playing down low, but at the same time, if the opportunity is there; I’m definitely going to take them. That’s one thing for sure that coach Gentry has told me—’Shoot the ball,’ ‘Let it go.’ I’ve been working on it and I’m very confident in my game.”
Davis continued:
“I’ve shot threes all my life. I didn’t really need to shoot them over the past few years as much, but I’m never going to turn down shooting threes, especially if the coach tells me he wants me to shoot them. It’s something that I’ve definitely been working on. I definitely plan on utilizing it this year.”
To be clear, Davis hasn’t utilized the long-range shot throughout his NBA career. He’s only attempted 27 triples during three seasons, though one ultimately helped New Orleans reach the playoffs last year.
Regardless, the 22-year-old was filmed working on three-pointers, and to no one’s surprise, Davis is a stellar shooter from beyond the arc, too.
Last season, Davis connected on a career-best 41.9 percent of shots he attempted from 16 feet to the arc. His next step is extending that range to the other side of the line, where it appears Davis will have a regular presence.
Davis’ development was already an important storyline to watch for the future of basketball, and a consistent three-point would quickly make the fourth-year pro both an unstoppable weapon and a thrill to observe.