The six-inch-high No. 1 stitched on the back of his teal and
gray uniform is probably the only thing about former Bruin point
guard Baron Davis that isn’t understated.
That, and his statline for the year: 22.7 points, 7.7 assists,
4.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals per contest, each career highs. Davis
has single-handedly led the NBA’s Hornets in the box score,
but also in commitment and guidance.
Davis, limited to only 50 games last year due to back injury,
has taken to a strict training regimen that has allowed him to
shoulder the team’s load and lift the spirits of Hornets
fans, leading New Orleans to the fourth-best record in the Eastern
Conference.
“(It’s) just hard work,” he said. “Just
hard work, dedication. You know, showing up to the gym everyday,
showing up to run and lift, not taking (any) days off.”
The opportunity for rest days has come few and far between for
the point guard, playing a position that necessitates the speed and
quickness Baron has been more than able to provide.
“Night in and night out, you’re playing against
tough guards. There are no nights off in the NBA.”
This reality comes as no surprise to the Bruin alumnus, who rose
to the top of the collegiate ranks during his two-year stint at
UCLA from 1998 to 1999. Running up and down the floors of Pauley
Pavilion molded Davis into the player familiar to national
audiences today.
“It just gave me the opportunity to play on the highest
platform in Los Angeles, in front of great competition, and being
at a good school.”
The Los Angeles native grew up watching Darrick Martin, another
former Bruin who made the jump to the NBA. He also credits his
success to his meeting with legendary coach John Wooden, the symbol
of UCLA basketball.
“(It was) inspirational, eye-opening,” Baron said of
his first encounter with Wooden. “I was in disbelief when I
first met him. He was a great guy, offers a lot of words of advice.
He’s still a coach, he’s always gonna be a
coach.”
An anchor in the UCLA backcourt that included current Memphis
Grizzlies guard Earl Watson, Davis averaged 13.6 points, 5.1
assists and 2.5 steals per game wearing the blue and gold,
including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1998.
“It was good,” Watson recalled of his experience
playing alongside Baron. “We knew each other so well, we were
so close, that it benefited us on the court.”
Although Davis and Watson have been involved in the professional
circuit for five and three years now, respectively, outstanding
circumstances prevented the two from taking the court against each
other until this season.
“Each year one of us has been hurt every time we faced
each other,” said Watson. “I was with him all day
before the game, like back in college. (Then) we got on the court
and played against each other. It was fun.”
One thing is for sure, Watson had a more enjoyable time taking
the court with him rather than on opposing teams, as he currently
does with Memphis.
“Baron is unreal. He can do anything,” Watson
said.
After an early exit from the NCAA Tournament in 1999, he took
his talents to the NBA draft, where he was selected third overall.
The rest is history.
From the college ranks to the professional level, what Davis has
brought to the basketball court in statistics is equally matched in
attitude and selflessness.
His eye-opening statistics this year earned him his second
All-Star Game appearance, as well as legitimate consideration for
the NBA’s MVP award, mentioned in the same breath as Tim
Duncan and Kevin Garnett. But Davis values the number of wins more
than the accolades.
The 2003-2004 season has been a tough ride for Baron, but those
nights spent playing under the banners of teams past and wearing
UCLA colors won off the sweat and grit of names like Goodrich,
Walton and Alcindor, have helped him to remain focused on the
ultimate prize.
“Some games, I know that I’m not gonna be on, and my
shots are not gonna fall, but, you know, I gotta find different
ways to lead this team and help us to win,” he said.
A love of the game and a willingness to play has allowed the
23-year-old to make a more than remarkable comeback after an
injury-plagued season last year.
Striving to be the best by outsmarting his opponents and helping
his team to win has caused this point guard to be considered No.
1.