It’s been a tough season for the New Orleans Pelicans. After squeezing into the playoffs at the eighth seed last year, 2015-2016 was supposed to be when they broke out as a rising powerhouse in the Western Conference with new coach Alvin Gentry. Unfortunately, thanks to a myriad of injuries, the Pelicans now sit at the bottom of their division at 26-43.
To make matters worse, New Orleans will be losing their star player Anthony Davis for the rest of the season due to a torn labrum and knee injury, the team announced today.
Davis will be undergoing surgery for both to correct the problem and now risks his status at the 2016 Rio Olympics games. Not only that, but the $24 million extra he was supposed to make as part of the maximum extension he signed with the Pelicans this past offseason is up in the air, as well as his status for being named in upcoming end-of-season All-NBA teams.
Davis ends the year averaging 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game.
New Orleans is going to need The Brow at full strength next season and help bring some pieces around him to have a shot in competing in the tough Western Conference.