Baron Davis is one of the NBA’s elite point guards, a powerful guy who makes passes that many guards don’t see.
Davis, 29, opted out of his contract with Golden State Tuesday, and the interest in his services will be considerable from the teams that are able to afford him.
When I think of Davis, it’s not as a Warrior or even as a Charlotte Hornet. It’s as a New Orleans Hornet.
I was in New Orleans for a story during the 2004-05 season and was waiting at courtside after a game. The Hornets had just played the New York Knicks.
Davis did not play. He was injured.
After the court had emptied, he came onto it, wearing sweats. After he loosened up, he began to get serious. He hit long shots, went to the hoop and dropped a beautiful hesitation move on an invisible defender. He was better than anybody on either team had been that night.
It was the best workout I have ever seen from a player who was too hurt to help his teammates. They could have used him. The Hornets were terrible at the time. This was before Chris Paul.
Davis didn’t play because he didn’t want to play. He never did play another game for New Orleans. He wanted out and got his way. The Hornets traded him to team in his home state, Golden State.
The trip west restored him. When he landed, he was healthy enough to play for the Warriors.
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