Anthony Davis: His 2017 Team & Stats

What's up, basketball fanatics! Today, we're diving deep into the 2016-2017 NBA season, a pivotal year for one of the league's most dominant big men, Anthony Davis. If you're wondering about the team he was playing for and what kind of numbers he was putting up back then, you've come to the right place. In 2017, AD was rocking the purple and gold, but hold on – that's not the Lakers yet! We're talking about the New Orleans Pelicans, the team that drafted him and where he spent the early, dominant years of his career. This was a season where Davis was truly establishing himself as an elite force, showcasing his incredible versatility and athleticism. He was the undisputed leader, carrying the load for the Pelicans and reminding everyone why he was such a highly touted prospect coming out of college. The 2016-2017 season was a testament to his individual brilliance, even if the team's success wasn't always commensurate with his personal output. Get ready to revisit some seriously impressive stats and the context surrounding AD's game during this exciting period in his career. We'll break down his performance, the team's dynamics, and what made him such a must-watch player during that particular year. So, grab your favorite snacks, settle in, and let's get this basketball rewind started!

The New Orleans Pelicans: AD's 2017 Squad

Alright guys, let's talk about the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017. This was the squad that Anthony Davis was leading, and man, it was a team built around his immense talent. The 2016-2017 season saw AD as the unquestioned centerpiece, the guy everyone looked to for buckets, rebounds, and blocks. The Pelicans, unfortunately, weren't exactly lighting up the league in terms of overall team success that year. They finished with a 34-48 record, missing the playoffs. It was a bit of a rough patch for the franchise, and as often happens when a superstar is on a struggling team, a lot of the focus – both positive and negative – landed squarely on Davis's shoulders. Despite the team's struggles, AD was putting up historic numbers. He was the focal point of the offense, a defensive anchor, and the engine that tried to drive the Pelicans forward. The roster around him had some interesting pieces, but it never quite coalesced into a consistent winner. Guys like Jrue Holiday, who was also a key player for the Pelicans during this time, provided solid support, but the team often lacked the depth and consistent offensive firepower to compete with the league's elite. Injuries also played a role, as they often do in the NBA, affecting the team's consistency and ability to build momentum. However, for basketball purists, watching Anthony Davis single-handedly will a team to respectable individual performances was always a treat. He was a constant threat on both ends of the floor, making plays that few other players in the league could even dream of. The narrative surrounding the Pelicans in 2017 was largely one of potential hindered by circumstances, with AD being the shining star in a sometimes dim galaxy. It was a time where his individual dominance was undeniable, even if the team accolades weren't there. We're talking about a player who was already making a case for being one of the best to ever play the game, and this season was a major stepping stone in that journey, showcasing his unparalleled skill set against the best competition the NBA had to offer. The city of New Orleans loved their Brow, and even though the wins weren't always abundant, his effort and skill were always on full display, making every Pelicans game worth watching for the sheer spectacle of his talent.

Anthony Davis's Statistics in the 2016-2017 Season

Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty, the stats that made Anthony Davis a household name and a fantasy basketball nightmare (in the best way possible!) during the 2016-2017 season. Even with the New Orleans Pelicans struggling to find consistent team success, AD was an absolute monster on an individual level. He played in 75 games that season, which was a good sign of his durability after some injury-plagued years prior. And what did he do in those 75 games? He averaged an incredible 27.9 points per game. Yeah, you heard that right – nearly 28 points a night! But he wasn't just a scorer; this dude was a complete player. He also chipped in with 11.8 rebounds per game, dominating the glass and giving his team second-chance opportunities. And for the cherry on top, he was swatting shots away like flies, averaging 2.2 blocks per game. That put him among the league leaders in both scoring and rebounding, and as a premier shot-blocker, solidifying his status as a true two-way force. His efficiency was also notable; he shot 50.3% from the field, showing that he could score from anywhere on the court with remarkable accuracy. Beyond the box score, Davis was a defensive game-changer, altering shots and deterring opponents from attacking the rim. The combination of scoring prowess, rebounding dominance, and elite rim protection made him one of the most impactful players in the entire league. This season was a clear indication that when healthy, Anthony Davis was capable of carrying a significant offensive and defensive load. His ability to impact the game in so many ways – scoring, rebounding, defending, and even facilitating at times – was truly remarkable. Fans and analysts alike marveled at his offensive versatility, his powerful drives to the basket, and his surprisingly soft touch around the rim. On the defensive end, his length and athleticism made him a nightmare for opposing offenses. He was the kind of player who could single-handedly change the complexion of a game, and the stats from the 2016-2017 season perfectly illustrate that point. It was a period where his individual brilliance shone brightly, even amidst team challenges, proving his worth as a perennial All-Star and an undeniable superstar in the making. The sheer volume and quality of his production that year cemented his reputation as one of the league's most dominant big men, a title he continues to hold to this day.

Key Teammates and Their Impact

When you talk about Anthony Davis and his 2017 New Orleans Pelicans, it's crucial to mention the guys who shared the court with him. While AD was undoubtedly the sun in this basketball solar system, other players played vital roles in trying to make the team orbit successfully. One of the most significant teammates during this era was Jrue Holiday. Holiday, a tenacious defender and a skilled point guard, was AD's backcourt partner and a major contributor to the team's efforts. He averaged 15.4 points and 7.3 assists in the 2016-2017 season, providing a much-needed steady hand at the point guard position and often setting up Davis for easy baskets. His defensive intensity often matched Davis's on the other end, making them a formidable defensive duo, even if the team overall struggled. Terrence Jones also had a stint with the Pelicans around this time, offering some scoring punch and athleticism in the frontcourt, though his tenure was somewhat inconsistent. Buddy Hield was acquired via trade during the season, and though he was a rookie finding his footing, his shooting ability offered a different dimension to the offense. Other players like Solomon Hill and Langston Galloway provided valuable minutes, contributing defensively and with timely shooting. However, the reality is that outside of Holiday, the Pelicans often struggled to find consistent, high-level supporting talent that could truly complement Davis's game and elevate the team's overall performance. The narrative often circled back to the need for more consistent offensive threats and better depth to take the pressure off AD. Despite these challenges, the camaraderie and effort from the supporting cast were evident. They battled hard, and you could see them trying to execute the game plan, but ultimately, the talent disparity compared to other playoff teams was a significant hurdle. It’s a classic case of a superstar needing the right pieces around him to truly contend, and the 2017 Pelicans were still very much in the process of trying to assemble those pieces. Jrue Holiday stands out as the most consistent and impactful teammate for Davis during this period, forming a dynamic one-two punch that, while not enough to lead to consistent team success, was exciting to watch.

The Broader Context: NBA Landscape in 2017

To truly appreciate Anthony Davis's 2017 season, we gotta zoom out and look at the NBA landscape during that time, guys. This was a league dominated by powerhouse teams and legendary players. In the Western Conference, where the New Orleans Pelicans resided, the Golden State Warriors were in the midst of their dynasty, boasting a roster that included Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant (who joined in the summer of 2016). They were an offensive juggernaut, and competing against them was a monumental task for any team. The San Antonio Spurs were still a consistent force with Tim Duncan retired, but still led by Gregg Popovich and stars like Kawhi Leonard. The Houston Rockets, under James Harden, were also emerging as a serious contender. In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, were the undisputed kings, having just won a championship in 2016 and making it to the Finals again in 2017. The level of competition was incredibly high. For a team like the Pelicans, trying to carve out a playoff spot in the loaded West was an uphill battle. They were often overshadowed by these marquee franchises with deeper rosters and more established winning cultures. Anthony Davis's individual brilliance stood out even more starkly against this backdrop. He was competing nightly against MVPs and future Hall of Famers. His ability to put up his incredible numbers amidst such fierce competition speaks volumes about his talent. The narrative for many teams, including the Pelicans, was about trying to find a way to break through the established hierarchy. The Warriors' dominance, in particular, set a new standard for offensive firepower and team chemistry that was difficult to match. This era also saw the continued rise of positionless basketball and the increasing importance of three-point shooting, trends that were reshaping how teams played and built their rosters. AD, with his unique skill set, was ahead of the curve in many ways, a modern big man capable of playing inside and out. However, the surrounding pieces on his team weren't always built to fully exploit these modern trends or to counter the strengths of the league's elite. Ultimately, the 2017 NBA was a proving ground for superstars, and while Davis was firmly in that category, his team's success was a reflection of the overall strength and balance of the league's top contenders.

The Playoff Picture and Pelicans' Aspirations

Let's talk playoffs, or more accurately, the lack thereof for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017, guys. When you have a talent like Anthony Davis, the expectation, or at least the aspiration, is always to be playing deep into the postseason. However, as we've touched upon, the 34-48 record for the Pelicans that season meant they were firmly on the outside looking in. The Western Conference was brutal. Imagine trying to climb a mountain where the peak is constantly getting higher. Teams like the Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, Clippers, and Jazz were all formidable playoff contenders. For New Orleans, the playoff picture was more about surviving the regular season grind and hoping to sneak into the eighth seed, which they ultimately failed to do. Their aspirations were undoubtedly high entering the season, fueled by the potential of AD and the hope that the roster moves would pay dividends. However, inconsistency plagued the team. Losing streaks would derail any momentum, and crucial home losses often proved too costly to overcome. The coaching staff faced the challenge of integrating new pieces and finding a consistent winning formula. The fans in New Orleans were hungry for playoff basketball, and seeing their superstar talent perform at an elite level without the team achieving ultimate success was a bittersweet experience. It highlighted the perennial challenge faced by teams with a singular superstar: how do you build enough complementary talent and depth to truly compete for a championship? The Pelicans were actively trying to answer that question, but in 2017, the answer remained elusive. The playoff teams in the West were simply more complete, with deeper rotations, more reliable offensive options, and often, more championship experience. While Anthony Davis was doing his superhuman best, it wasn't enough to lift the team into the postseason elite. Their playoff aspirations remained just that – aspirations – for another year, a testament to the competitive fire of the Western Conference and the ongoing process of team building for the Pelicans franchise. It was a season where the focus was often on AD's individual brilliance, with the hope that brighter playoff days were on the horizon for the team.

Looking Back: AD's 2017 Legacy

When we look back at Anthony Davis's 2017 season, it's defined by a few key things, guys. First and foremost, it's a powerful reminder of his individual dominance. Even though the New Orleans Pelicans weren't a championship contender, AD was putting up MVP-caliber numbers. He showcased an offensive arsenal that was almost unmatched for a player his size, coupled with defensive prowess that made him a true two-way star. His 27.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game were not just statistics; they were statements of his impact on the game. This season solidified his status as one of the premier players in the NBA, a guy who could single-handedly carry a team's offensive and defensive load. Secondly, it highlights the classic