Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Friday 17 February 2017
Pelicans’ Davis relishing chance to play All-Star host

BRETT MARTEL which he still eats when he
AP Sports Writer goes home. But in New Or-
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An- leans, he’s refined his pal-
thony Davis is tiring of the ette, sampling the city’s re-
narrative that his pro bas- nowned creole cuisine and
ketball career would be fresh Gulf seafood.
better served if he played “The food is amazing. The
somewhere other than little spice it has to it is amaz-
New Orleans. ing. The gumbo is amaz-
During All-Star week- ing,” Davis said. “When you
end, the face of the Peli- go to other cities and they
cans franchise will have have New Orleans gumbo
a chance to exhibit why or New Orleans-style food
building a winner in the Big or whatever, it tastes noth-
Easy matters to him. And if ing like it. I’ve been around
his enthusiasm for his ad- the city and got a chance
opted hometown proves to experience all types of
contagious among some food.
of the elite talent gathering “I actually eat seafood
in the NBA’s Gulf South out- now.”
post, all the better for the Davis’ strengthening ties
“Brow.” to New Orleans go well
“I was definitely excited for beyond fun and flavor. He
All-Star to come to New Or- arrived in the first decade
leans again; New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, an
is a fun place,” said Davis, epic disaster from which re-
who was a second-year pro building is not entirely com-
and first-time All-Star when plete. Some of the hardest-
the NBA’s annual marquee hit neighborhoods needed
event last came to the city help before the storm and
in 2014. “It will be a good even more so afterward,
chance for other players and Davis has immersed
to experience our city, the himself charitable and
culture in New Orleans with community endeavors. His
Mardi Gras and all, and see AD’s Flight Academy fea-
why we feel New Orleans tures events with kids such
is one the best places to
play basketball as far as as basketball camps, bowl-
the fan base that we have ing and movie nights.
and the culture of the city “He keeps himself involved
and everything like that.” in the community whether
The All-Star game wasn’t that’s helping kids or build-
supposed to return to New New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after being fouled in the second half of ing up the city. He truly
Orleans quite this quickly, an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. The cares,” said Pelicans for-
but the league pulled the Pelicans won 111-106. ward Terrence Jones, who
game Charlotte earlier this Associated Press won a NCAA national title
year because of a North 2014. Now he’s among the pects are in doubt again. like if, via a trade or free with Davis at Kentucky in
Carolina state law that lim- most popular players in the Entering Wednesday agency, they wound up 2012 and rejoined his col-
its protections of LGBT peo- world and an All-Star starter night’s action, New Or- joining him. lege teammate in the NBA
ple. boasting gaudy statistics of leans was 12 games below “There definitely is a time this season.
But this All-Star weekend nearly 28 points and 12 re- .500 and 3 ½ games out of for that,” Davis said. “The “People have so much joy
will be different for Davis bounds per game — not to the final playoff spot in the main focus is for everybody when they see him at any
than his first, when he was mention season highs of 50 Western Conference. to just go out there and events we have for the
still getting comfortable points, 22 rebounds and six While Davis doesn’t expect have fun.” Pelicans,” Jones said. “He’s
with pro basketball and blocks. to spend the whole week- Davis was pleased that excited to be able to repre-
life in New Orleans. Davis, What Davis needs now is end recruiting, he acknowl- this year’s All-Star festivities sent the city.”
nicknamed “the Unibrow” more help. The Pelicans edged that playing host to coincide with Mardi Gras. Pelicans general manager
since his college days at missed the playoffs in three the NBA’s elite gives him an Normally, the NBA sched- Dell Demps got a sense
Kentucky, was a West- of his first four pro seasons, opportunity to help them ule takes the Pelicans away of Davis’ commitment to
ern Conference reserve in and their postseason pros- envision what it might be from New Orleans during New Orleans when the star
most of pre-Lenten Carni- big man seized the earliest
val, which draws millions possible opportunity to sign
of tourists to New Orleans a five-year, $127 million ex-
for rollicking festivities cen- tension that runs through
tered on parades and balls. 2020-21.
“I’m excited to actually be Said Demps: “Although An-
in town,” Davis said. thony’s from Chicago, he
Then there’s the food. Da- treats New Orleans like it’s
vis expects to double as a his home.”
restaurant guide this week. He wouldn’t mind if one
Growing up in Chicago, or two of his fellow all-stars
Davis was all about pizza, did, too.q