Baron Davis
Two-time NBA All-Star and 2004 All-NBA Third Team selection who led the league in steals and engineered the 2007 'We Believe' Warriors upset.
Baron Walter Louis Davis (born April 13, 1979) is an American former professional basketball player who is a television host and sports analyst. He was a two-time NBA All-Star, made the All-NBA Third Team in 2004, and twice led the NBA in steals. He was drafted with the third overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He also played in the NBA for the New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks. Davis played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, earning All-American honors before turning professional after his sophomore year. He was a star high school player while at Crossroads School. Davis holds the NBA's career playoff record for steals per game with an average of 2.28 over 50 games.
Lore & Background
Baron Davis was born in Los Angeles and grew up in South Central. His grandmother and guardian, Lela Nicholson, pushed him to play basketball. He enrolled at Crossroads School in Santa Monica. As a senior, he led his team to the Beach Ball Classic championship, earning MVP honors. He was named Gatorade National Player of the Year and a Parade All-American, and played in the McDonald's All-American Game in 1997. He chose UCLA over Kansas, Georgia Tech, and Duke. In 1998, he was Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and made third-team All-American in 1999. He averaged 13.6 points and 5.1 assists in two years. He tore his ACL during an NCAA Tournament game as a freshman but recovered fully. He declared for the 1999 NBA draft after his sophomore year.
Reader's Guide
Davis was drafted third overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. In his rookie season, he backed up Eddie Jones and David Wesley. The next year, he started all 82 games and led the Hornets to the playoffs, sweeping the Miami Heat before losing to the Bucks in seven games. He made an 89-foot shot on February 17, 2001.
In 2002, he was an All-Star injury replacement for Vince Carter. The Hornets relocated to New Orleans in 2002. In the 2003-04 season, he led the league in steals per game, was an All-Star, and made All-NBA Third Team. He won the Skills Challenge.
On February 24, 2005, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis. In 2006-07, he led the league in steals per game and the Warriors to the playoffs, where they upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks 4-2, becoming the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in a seven-game series. He averaged 25 points in that series. In 2008, he opted out of his contract. He then agreed to a 5-year, $65 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Did You Know?
- He was the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in a best-of-seven series, with the 2007 Warriors defeating the Mavericks.
- Allen Iverson called Davis the most difficult defensive assignment of his career.
More in Legendary Players & Coaches
Elsewhere in New Orleans Pelicans
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced