After what has to be considered a disappointing 2015-16 season that saw the team win just 30 games, expectations are high that the New Orleans Pelicans will rebound this year.
The biggest key in a potential playoff run for Alvin Gentry’s squad remains all-everything big man Anthony Davis. If he’s healthy and playing at the level we’ve seen throughout his career, Davis can act as the centerpiece for a playoff team. We saw this back in 2014-15.
Unfortunately, it looks like the 23-year-old three-time All-Star will start the regular season banged up.
Davis suffered what was originally thought to be a rolled ankle in the Pelicans’ game against the Houston Rockets in China on Wednesday. The big man returned to the court, only to leave for the locker room shortly thereafter.
It’s now being reported that Davis suffered an ankle sprain and will be out for up to the next two weeks.
Pelicans big man Anthony Davis expected to be out 10-15 days after suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain in Beijing, source told @TheUndefeated. pic.twitter.com/cZ5axRRpvQ
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 12, 2016
Why Davis returned to the court in a preseason game is anyone’s guess, but it puts his availability for the team’s season opener against the Denver Nuggets on October 26th into question.
Davis averaged 24.3 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the field last season.