Anthony Davis enjoyed the best season of his career last year and truly established himself as one of the best players in the NBA.The power forward averaged a career-high 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and a league-leading 2.6 blocks.With that production, he led the New Orleans Pelicans back into the playoffs and inspired them to a first-round sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers before losing to the Golden State Warriors.The 25-year-old finished third in the voting for both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.But despite missing out on the top individual accolades last season, Davis says he views himself as the best player.“In my eyes, I am the best player in the game. I really feel that way and nobody can tell me different,” he said.

The five-time All-Star has every reason to be confident after the campaign he had as he was simply unstoppable in the final months of the regular season.

Carrying the Pelicans

After DeMarcus Cousins suffered an Achilles injury which ruled him out for the rest of the year, Davis put the Pelicans on his back and went on a tear.

He was determined to get New Orleans into the playoffs and was putting up extraordinary numbers to make sure it happened.

But the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and reigning MVP James Harden will have something to say about his declaration that he's the best in the game.

'The Brow' will have to prove it and he is certainly expected to be a strong MVP candidate again for the 2018-19 campaign.

He did acknowledge that he'll have to convince everybody else to think the same way and he can only do that by continuing to dominate on the court and securing another postseason berth for the Pels.

Davis understands just how difficult that'll be in a loaded Western Conference but is confident about their chances.

"Every game is always important no matter what part of the year it is. You want to win every game," Davis said, per NOLA.com.

"Of course, the West has gotten deeper with someone going to the Lakers but as a unit, we know what we bring as a team and what we did last year."

The franchise lost both Cousins and Rajon Rondo in free agency but replaced them with Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton.

It'll be interesting to see if they can have the same impact and ensure that they remain a threat in the west.