Due to all of the player movement around the NBA this summer, you might have forgotten that the New Orleans Pelicans are getting ready to feature both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in their first full season together.
In what is clearly the most dynamic frontcourt duo in the entire league, the superstar big men have been working out together this summer in order to get a head start on training camp, according to ESPN.
After being acquired in a shocking trade from the Sacramento Kings, Cousins played in 17 games as a member of the Pelicans at the end of last season, but New Orleans went just 7-10 in that span, as the two former University of Kentucky standouts didn’t have much time to develop chemistry on the court.
Despite the lack of team success, both players thrived individually, and the stats prove it. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Cousins averaged 24.4 points and 12.4 rebounds while Davis put up 28.3 points and 11.1 rebounds when they took the court together.
However, both players feel as though there’s room for improvement.
"We've just tried to get in as much work as possible this summer," Davis told the team's official website. "We didn't have that much time last season to work out with each other, because we didn't have training camp or [many practices]. So we wanted to take advantage of this opportunity, where we had time in the summer in the same city and can get in some work in together, because we'll be playing with each other a lot.”
"It's about trying to get used to each other. Of course we knew what each other can do from when we matched up against each other when he was in Sacramento, but it's different now, learning where he likes to be and where I can get my shots from, or where he can get his shots. We didn't want to waste training camp trying to figure that out. We're going to both use this to be ready and try to improve the team,” he added.
This offseason, the Pelicans re-signed starting point guard Jrue Holiday to a massive five-year, $126 million extension and also added veteran floor general Rajon Rondo. It remains a strong possibility that both Rondo and Holiday share time on the court along with Davis and Cousins.
Given Rondo’s pass-first nature, he might be the perfect fit to join the frontcourt duo, who both command a high volume of ball touches on the offensive end.
Davis credits Cousins as the sole reason why Rondo (who also went to Kentucky back in the day) decided to sign in New Orleans. "[Cousins] played with him in Sac, and he definitely knows him very well, as well as from Kentucky," Davis explained. "He definitely was a key part in getting Rondo. We're just happy we got him. It goes back to DeMarcus just trying to help the team in whatever way possible. Helping us to go get Rondo was one of those things.”
In a packed Western Conference, the Pelicans likely won’t contend for a title next season, but Davis and Cousins will make things very difficult as a matchup nightmare for opposing squads all season long.