Baron Davis

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Baron Davis

| image = Collision 2023 - RCZ 0560 (53008986428) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Davis in 2023

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 215

| league =

| team =

| number = 1, 5, 85, 24

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1979|4|13}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| high_school = Crossroads School
(Santa Monica, California)

| college = UCLA (1997–1999)

| draft_year = 1999

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 3

| draft_team = Charlotte Hornets

| career_start = 1998

| career_end = 2012; 2016

| years1 = {{nbay|1999|start}}–{{nbay|2001|end}}

| team1 = Charlotte Hornets

| years2 = {{nbay|2002|start}}–{{nbay|2004|end}}

| team2 = New Orleans Hornets

| years3 = {{nbay|2004|end}}–{{nbay|2007|end}}

| team3 = Golden State Warriors

| years4 = {{nbay|2008|start}}–{{nbay|2010|end}}

| team4 = Los Angeles Clippers

| years5 = {{nbay|2010|end}}

| team5 = Cleveland Cavaliers

| years6 = {{nbay|2011|full=y}}

| team6 = New York Knicks

| years7 = 2016

| team7 = Delaware 87ers

| highlights = * 2× NBA All-Star ({{nasg|2002}}, {{nasg|2004}})

All-NBA Third Team ({{nbay|2003|end}})
2× NBA steals leader ({{nbay|2003|end}}, {{nbay|2006|end}})
Third-team All-American – AP (1999)
First-team All-Pac-10 (1999)
Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (1998)
Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (1998)
Gatorade Player of the Year (1997)
First-team Parade All-American (1997)
McDonald's All-American (1997)
California Mr. Basketball (1997)

| stats_league = NBA

| stat1label = Points

| stat1value = 13,447 (16.1 ppg)

| stat2label = Assists

| stat2value = 6,025 (7.2 apg)

| stat3label = Steals

| stat3value = 1,530 (1.8 spg)

| bbr = davisba01

| medal_templates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's basketball}}

{{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}}

}}

Baron Walter Louis Davis (born April 13, 1979) is an American former professional basketball player who is a studio analyst for the NBA on TNT. He was a two-time NBA All-Star, made the All-NBA Third Team in 2004, and twice led the NBA in steals. He was drafted with the third overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He also played in the NBA for the New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks. Davis played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, earning All-American honors before turning professional after his sophomore year. He was a star high school player while at Crossroads School. Davis holds the NBA's career playoff record for steals per game with an average of 2.28 over 50 games.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/stl_per_g_career_p.html NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Steals Per Game] Basketball Reference

Early life

Davis was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the South Central area.{{cite news |title="The L.A. in my Game", with Baron Davis: Part I |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/23164 |publisher=ESPN |date=November 11, 2011 |access-date=March 26, 2020}} His grandmother and guardian, Lela Nicholson, was instrumental in pushing him to play basketball. With her encouragement, he eventually enrolled at Crossroads School, a prestigious private school in Santa Monica.

As a senior at Crossroads, Davis led his team to the championship of The Beach Ball Classic tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, over perennial prep powerhouse Simon Gratz High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), while earning MVP honors and a spot on the All-Tournament team along with future St. John's standout Erick Barkley at that prestigious event. That year, Davis was also named Gatorade National Player of the Year and a Parade All-American. He was also selected to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game in Colorado Springs in 1997, playing with future NBA players Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Larry Hughes and Ron Artest.

College career

After a highly contested recruiting battle that saw Kansas, Georgia Tech, Duke, and UCLA in hot pursuit for his services, Davis selected UCLA as college choice, so that he could play in front of his family and friends. During this time, Davis was involved in a minor controversy pertaining to his driving a 1991 Chevy Blazer that was a gift from his sister, then a UCLA employee. The car was sold to her by Jim Harrick's son. At the time, Harrick was the UCLA men's basketball coach, presenting both a conflict of interest and a potential recruiting violation, since rumor had it that the car was purchased below market value. The controversy subsided when it was discovered that Davis's sister had, in fact, bought the car at fair market value.{{cite magazine|first=Alexander|last=Wolff|title=OUT TO DINNER, OUT OF A JOB UCLA FIRED COACH JIM HARRICK FOR LYING ABOUT AN EXPENSE-ACCOUNT MEAL. WAS THAT THE ONLY REASON?|date=November 18, 1996|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1996/11/18/out-to-dinner-out-of-a-job-ucla-fired-coach-jim-harrick-for-lying-about-an-expense-account-meal-was-that-the-only-reason|access-date=December 24, 2022}} Davis then enrolled at UCLA in 1997 without problem. In 1998, Davis was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and made the third-team All-American his sophomore year in 1999.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Emmons |title=Warriors' leader Baron Davis has a Hollywood story |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_5831215 |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=May 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509035608/http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_5831215?nclick_check=1 |archive-date=May 9, 2007}}

In Davis's two years at UCLA, he averaged 13.6 points and 5.1 assists for the Bruins. While coming down from a dunk during an NCAA Tournament game his freshman year, he injured his knee and tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Surprisingly, though, he made a full recovery the next season and seemed to have regained nearly all of the speed, quickness, and explosiveness he had before the injury while doing enough on the basketball court to warrant his declaring for the 1999 NBA draft after his sophomore campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/craig/draft/1999_draft/Players/davis.html |title=Baron Davis, UCLA |publisher=Ibiblio.org |access-date=May 20, 2012}}

Professional career

=Charlotte Hornets (1999–2002)=

Davis was the third pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. In his NBA debut, a 100–86 win over the Orlando Magic, Davis scored nine points, and added five rebounds, two assists and two steals. In Davis's first year, he backed up Eddie Jones and David Wesley, as the Hornets lost in the first round of the playoffs to the 76ers in four games.

File:Jamal Mashburn and Baron Davis.jpg

Davis saw better success the following year, as his averages in points, assists, steals and minutes per game all increased and he started all 82 games for the Hornets. Davis lead the Hornets back into the playoffs, and swept the Miami Heat before being defeated by the Ray Allen-led Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in the second round. Davis is credited with making the longest shot in NBA history at the Bradley Center on February 17, 2001, when he made an {{convert|89|ft|adj=on}} shot with 0.7 seconds remaining in the third quarter against the Bucks.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/clippers/games/pregame_MILLAC_090117.html|title=Carmax Pregame report: Clippers vs. Bucks|date=January 17, 2009|work=NBA.com|access-date=January 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110024834/http://www.nba.com/clippers/games/pregame_MILLAC_090117.html|archive-date=January 10, 2016|url-status=dead}} During All-Star weekend, he also participated in the Slam Dunk Contest and the Rising Stars Challenge

The next season, Davis again started all 82 games while averaging 18 points and 8.5 assists per game. He was also selected as an injury replacement for Vince Carter in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. The Hornets made the playoffs with Davis for the third time in as many years, but after defeating the Tracy McGrady-led Orlando Magic in the opening round, they were eliminated in the second round by the Jason Kidd-led New Jersey Nets.

=New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005)=

In the summer of 2002, the Hornets relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, to New Orleans. In the New Orleans Hornets' inaugural season, Davis suffered multiple injuries that limited him to just 50 games. He was still able to lead the Hornets back to the playoffs, but they would fall to the Allen Iverson-led Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Iverson would later describe Davis as the most difficult defensive assignment of his career.{{Cite tweet |author=Allen Iverson |user=Sixers |number=588490173337440256 |date=April 15, 2015 |title=Baron Davis. #AskTheAnswer |access-date=April 16, 2015 }}

The following season saw injuries limited Davis to 67 games. Despite this, he led the league in steals per game, was voted an All-Star for the second time, and earned an All-NBA third team selection. Davis also won the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend. The Hornets were ultimately ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Dwyane Wade-led Miami Heat in seven games.

The Hornets made the playoffs in each of Davis's five years with the team, and only advanced past the first round in the two years he started every game. After Davis was traded to Golden State, New Orleans failed to make the playoffs for three straight years. He played for the U.S. national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html |title=USA Basketball: Men's World Championship Team History – 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714071037/http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html |archive-date=July 14, 2007}}

=Golden State Warriors (2005–2008)=

Image:Baron davis cropped.jpg

On February 24, 2005, Davis was traded from the Hornets to the Golden State Warriors for guard Speedy Claxton and veteran forward Dale Davis after tension with the Hornets' coaching staff and several nagging injuries.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1998925 |title=ESPN – Baron Davis going back to home state as Warrior – NBA |publisher=ESPN |date=February 24, 2005 |access-date=May 20, 2012}} The move created one of the more potent backcourts in the NBA with Davis and star guard Jason Richardson. It also saw Davis's return to California, where he had craved to return since his college days at UCLA.

After two seasons in which the Warriors underachieved under coach Mike Montgomery, the Warriors hired former coach Don Nelson for the 2006–07 season. His high-scoring offensive system was designed to fit Davis's up-tempo style. Although Davis suffered through knee soreness and underwent surgery during the season, he still led the league in steals per game and the Warriors to their first playoff appearance since 1994. The Warriors swept the regular season series against the Mavericks 3–0, giving them an advantage and won the series against the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks 4–2, making them the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed since the NBA changed the 1st round from a 5-game series to a 7-game series. It was numerically the largest upset in the history of the NBA playoffs, with the 67–15 Mavericks' regular-season win–loss record 25 games better than the 42–40 Warriors'. Davis averaged 25 points per game in the series.

Steve Kerr, then television analyst, called Davis's performance in the 2007 NBA playoffs "outrageous...stunningly athletic and creative and explosive."{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/nba_experts/post/Greatest-playoff-show-on-earth-?urn=nba,31909 |title=Greatest playoff show on earth? |last=Kerr |first=Steve |date=May 12, 2007 |work=NBA Experts Blog |publisher=Yahoo! Sports}} Davis's playoff highlights included numerous acrobatic layups, a buzzer-beating half-court three-pointer, and a memorable dunk over Andrei Kirilenko. The Utah Jazz eliminated the undersized Warriors 4 games to 1.{{cite web |url=http://sportsline.com/nba/postseason/matchups/semifinals/UTA-GS |title=NBA Basketball 2007 Playoffs |work=CBSSports.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009180702/http://www.sportsline.com/nba/postseason/matchups/semifinals/UTA-GS |archive-date=October 9, 2007 }} Davis averaged 25.3 points, 6.5 assists, 2.9 steals, and 4.5 rebounds per game in the 2007 Playoffs.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/baron_davis/index.html |title=Baron Davis Info Page |publisher=NBA }}

Image:Kobe Bryant.jpg ]]

In 2008, during a playoff elimination game against the Phoenix Suns, Coach Nelson benched Davis at halftime due to his poor play (shooting 2–13 in 17 minutes). Down fourteen at the half, the Warriors lost by six. Some sportswriters criticized Nelson's decision to bench his team's star with an entire half left to play; other writers speculated about possible friction between Davis and Nelson, which Nelson denied.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketballpass.com/golden-state-warriors/don-nelson-vs-baron-davis/ |title=Don Nelson makes huge mistake by sitting Baron Davis – Golden State Warriors News |publisher=Basketballpass.com |access-date=May 20, 2012}}{{cite web |author=BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2008041421 |title=Stoudemire, Nash lead Suns as they eliminate Warriors |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/16/SPNF1068B3.DTL&hw=baron+davis+pulled&sn=002&sc=996 |title=WHAT GIVES, GUYS? Nelson says there's no problem, Davis says very little |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 16, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2012}} After the 2007–08 season, in which the Warriors were narrowly edged out of playoff contention despite a record of 48–34 (led by Davis—who remained injury-free throughout the season—with averages of 21.8 PPG, 7.6 assists, 2.3 steals, 4.6 RPG), Davis's agent Todd Ramasar stated that Davis might opt out of his contract with the Warriors, which would have paid him $17.8 million, to pursue other options.{{cite web |url=http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52447/20080510/agent_says_baron_may_opt_out/ |title=RealGM: Wiretap Archives: Agent Says Baron May Opt Out |publisher=Basketball.realgm.com |date=May 16, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2012 |archive-date=July 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707055027/http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52447/20080510/agent_says_baron_may_opt_out/ |url-status=dead }} On June 30, 2008, Davis opted out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors.{{cite web |author=Brock Keeling |url=http://sfist.com/2008/06/30/breaking_sports_news_baron_davis_fl.php |title=Baron Davis Opts Out of Warriors Contract |publisher=Sfist.com |date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406025332/http://sfist.com/2008/06/30/breaking_sports_news_baron_davis_fl.php |archive-date=April 6, 2012 }}

=Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2011)=

On July 1, 2008, Davis verbally agreed to a 5-year, $65 million deal to play for his hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers,{{cite web|author=Marc Stein|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3470016 |title=ESPN – Davis verbally agrees to go to Clippers, leave Warriors – NBA |publisher=ESPN |date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2012}} and officially signed with the Clippers on July 10, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/bdavis_080710.html|title=Davis signs with Clippers|date=July 10, 2008|work=NBA.com}} Davis initially decided to join the Clippers with the intent of playing with Elton Brand, but Brand shockingly opted out of his contract to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. After officially signing with the Clippers, Davis said that Brand's departure had no impact on his decision to come to Los Angeles.{{cite news

|url = http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/clippers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_baron_davis_11.4a8eee1.html

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130131034649/http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/clippers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_baron_davis_11.4a8eee1.html

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = January 31, 2013

|title = Baron Davis says he didn't waver on Clippers despite Brand's Decision

|date = July 11, 2008

|first = Broderick

|last = Turner

|publisher = Press Enterprise

}}[http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clippers1-2008nov01,0,3038740.story|Baron Davis hurt again as Clippers blow big lead] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130127172758/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clippers1-2008nov01,0,3038740.story |date=January 27, 2013 |title=Baron }}

Prior to Davis's arrival, the Clippers had never even won their division or conference, and had only advanced past the first round of the playoffs twice since entering the league in 1970. Davis promised to change that, and despite Brand's departure, Clippers fans remained excited to have a star who could compete with crosstown rival Kobe Bryant's popularity.{{cite web|author=Marc Stein | url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3470016 |title=Davis verbally agrees to go to Clippers, leave Warriors – NBA |publisher=ESPN |date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=March 26, 2020}}

File:Derek Fisher defends Baron Davis.jpg]]

Davis's first year with the Clippers was marked with a series of injuries and disappointments, as the Clippers struggled to a 19–63 record in which Davis was only able to play 65 games, and saw his points per game average and field goal percentage take a steep decline.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/2009.html |title=2008–09 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=May 20, 2012}} Despite this, Davis did produce a few bright spots on the year. On November 22, he scored 30 points and handed out 10 assists in a game against the New Jersey Nets.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200811220NJN.html |title=Los Angeles Clippers at New Jersey Nets Box Score, November 22, 2008 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=November 22, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2012}} He also had a pair of 20-assist games on the year.

On November 20, 2009, at a home game vs the Denver Nuggets, Baron reached and surpassed the 5,000-assist mark.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/clippers/games/postgame_DENLAC_091120.html |title=CLIPPERS: Postgame Report: Clippers 106, Nuggets 99 |publisher=NBA |date=November 20, 2009 |access-date=October 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201700/http://www.nba.com/clippers/games/postgame_DENLAC_091120.html |archive-date=June 28, 2011 }} In his third year with the Clippers, a rejuvenated and healthy Davis saw some success playing alongside youngsters Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan and Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin. While Davis was finally showing the ability that prompted Clippers management to sign him, run-ins with the coaching staff and Clippers' owner Donald Sterling as well as the team's decision to get younger and rebuild, made the Clippers decide to move in a new direction.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/2/24/2012202/baron-davis-trade-cavaliers-draft-picks |title=Draft Picks, Including Clippers' Pick In Baron Davis Trade, Could Help Cavaliers Rebuild Quickly |publisher=SBNation.com |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=May 20, 2012}}

=Cleveland Cavaliers (2011)=

On February 24, 2011, Davis was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with a first-round pick (which turned out to be the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Kyrie Irving), in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.{{cite web| title = Cavaliers Acquire 2011 First round Pick and Two-Time All-Star Baron Davis From Clippers | url = http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/davis_110224.html | date = February 24, 2011 | access-date =February 24, 2011 |publisher=NBA }} This trade to Cleveland marked a reunion between Davis and former coach Byron Scott, to which Davis was quoted as saying "I know we're together for a reason. There's some things my game can benefit from just playing in his system". Davis chose to wear no. 85 to honor his grandparents who raised him in Los Angeles and whose house was on 85th Street. In his debut with the Cavs, Baron scored 18 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, had 5 assists, and made four three-point shots, in a win over the New York Knicks.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20110304/CLENYK/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021000919#nbaGIboxscore |title=FINAL |publisher=NBA |access-date=May 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628214138/http://www.nba.com/games/20110304/CLENYK/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021000919#nbaGIboxscore |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Despite joining a Cavaliers team who at the time of the trade had the worst record in the NBA (which included a record-setting 26-game losing streak), Davis helped the Cavaliers close the season with several victories,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/194 |title=Baron Davis Game By Game Stats and Performance – New York Knicks |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 26, 2020}} including a 102–90 upset victory over LeBron James and the Miami Heat,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=310329005 |title=Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – Box Score – March 29, 2011 |publisher=ESPN |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=May 20, 2012}} to ensure that Cleveland did not have the worst record in the league at the season's end.{{cite web|last=Rodriguez |first=Carter |url=http://www.fearthesword.com/2015/8/26/9211603/where-are-they-now-baron-davis |title=Where are they now: Baron Davis |publisher=Fearthesword.com |date=August 26, 2015 |access-date=July 25, 2017}}

On December 14, 2011, the Cavaliers waived Davis via the amnesty clause.{{cite web|last=Stein|first=Marc|title=Cavaliers amnesty Baron Davis|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7354164|work=ESPN|date=December 15, 2011|access-date=March 26, 2020}} He still made the $30 million over the two years left on his contract, but it did not count against Cleveland's salary cap. The Cavaliers had drafted Kyrie Irving with their first overall pick, and wanted to give him the starting point guard spot, allowing Davis to seek a starting job on a contending team. The Knicks, Heat and Lakers were in the market for a point guard at the time.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/story/2011-12-14/Cavaliers-use-amnesty-clause-to-waive-Baron-Davis/51941686/1 | work=USA Today | title=Most Popular E-mail Newsletter | date=December 14, 2011}}

=New York Knicks (2011–2012)=

File:Baron Davis March 2012.jpg in 2012]]

On December 19, 2011, Davis signed a one-year contract with the New York Knicks, choosing New York over the Lakers and Heat who also expressed interest in signing Davis.{{cite web|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/12/20/baron-davis-i-chose-knicks-over-lakers-heat/ |title=Baron Davis: I Chose New York Knicks Over Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat|publisher=CBS New York |date=December 20, 2011 |access-date=May 20, 2012}} At the time of the signing, Davis had a herniated disk in his back.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7369234|title=Knicks officially sign Baron Davis|date=December 19, 2011|first=Ian|last=Begley|publisher=ESPNNewYork.com}} He did not make his debut for the Knicks until February 20, 2012, coming off the bench to score a three-pointer along with an assist.{{cite web|last=Zwerling |first=Jared |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/12440 |title=Baron Davis' debut signals key for bench – Knicks Blog – ESPN New York |publisher=ESPN |date=May 16, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2020}}

Davis took over as the Knicks' starting point guard following the season-ending injury to Jeremy Lin. He also started the four playoff games he played in. On May 6, 2012, during Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs in New York's win against the Miami Heat, Davis injured his right knee while dribbling down the court. He was carted off the court on a stretcher.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7898000 |title=Baron Davis dislocates right kneecap|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 26, 2020|date=May 6, 2012|first=Ian |last=Begley}} He underwent surgery after an MRI revealed a partial tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee and complete tears of the right ACL and MCL.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7902353 |title=Baron Davis out for about a year|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 26, 2020|date=May 7, 2012|first=Ian |last=Begley}}

=Delaware 87ers (2016)=

Davis became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2012, but he was expected to be out until May 2013 while recovering from his surgery.{{cite news |last=Begley |first=Ian |title=Baron Davis' role |date=September 23, 2012 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/25050/baron-davis-role |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427131251/http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/25050/baron-davis-role |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |url-status=live }} He made a return to the basketball court in July 2015, scoring 44 points in the Drew League (which was the subject of his documentary The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce),{{cite web|url=http://ballislife.com/baron-davis-drops-44-points-sick-behind-the-back-pass-at-the-drew-league/ |title=BARON DAVIS DROPS 44 POINTS, SICK BEHIND THE BACK PASS AT THE DREW LEAGUE |date=July 7, 2015 |publisher=Ballislife.com |access-date=July 25, 2017}}{{cite web|author=Onaje |url=http://uproxx.com/dimemag/baron-davis-drew-league-40-points-nba/ |title=Can Baron Davis Play In The NBA After Dropping 40 Points At The Drew League? |date=July 8, 2015 |publisher=Uproxx.com |access-date=July 25, 2017}} and subsequently announced his interest in returning to the NBA.{{cite news|last=Highkin|first=Sean|title=Baron Davis says he's going to attempt an NBA comeback|date=July 22, 2015|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/22/baron-davis-says-hes-going-to-attempt-an-nba-comeback/|access-date=July 22, 2015}} On January 15, 2016, he signed a contract to play in the NBA Development League,{{cite news|last=Stein|first=Marc|title=Baron Davis signs with D-League in comeback attempt|date=January 15, 2016|work=ESPN.com|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/14579758 |access-date=March 26, 2020}} and on March 2, he was acquired by the Delaware 87ers.{{cite news|url=http://dleague.nba.com/news/delaware-87ers-acquire-baron-davis/|title=Baron Davis signs with D-League in comeback attempt|work=NBA.com|date=March 2, 2016|access-date=March 2, 2016}} Two days later, he made his D-League debut in a 114–106 loss to the Iowa Energy, recording eight points, one rebound, four assists and three steals in 19 minutes off the bench.{{cite news|url=http://dleague.nba.com/games/20160304/IWADEL/|title=Baron Davis Begins Comeback with Delaware 87ers|work=NBA.com|date=March 4, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016}} In six games for Delaware to conclude the 2015–16 season, Davis averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Davis participated in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game 2017 as part of Michael Smith's West Team.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/allstar/2017/events/celebrity-game|title=NBA All-Star Celebrity Game 2017 Official Event Page|date=January 12, 2017|work=NBA.com|access-date=January 12, 2017}}

On June 22, 2018, Davis made his debut for 3's Company of the Big3 league, leading the team with 17 points and 9 rebounds in a 21-point win. Davis finished the 2018 season with averages of 15.2 points, 4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1 steal in five games played; he ranked 5th in the league in steals per game, 5th in 3-pointers, and 6th in 3-point percentage.{{cite web|url=https://big3.com/stats/|title=BIG3 Stats|date=|work=Big3.com|access-date=November 8, 2022}}

NBA career statistics

= Regular season =

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Charlotte

| 82 || 0 || 18.6 || .420 || .225 || .634 || 2.0 || 3.8 || 1.2 || .2 || 5.9

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2000}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Charlotte

| 82 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 38.9 || .427 || .310 || .677 || 5.0 || 7.3 || 2.1 || .4 || 13.8

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2001}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Charlotte

| 82 || 82 || 40.5 || .417 || .356 || .580 || 4.3 || 8.5 || 2.1 || .6 || 18.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2002}}

| style="text-align:left;"| New Orleans

| 50 || 47 || 37.8 || .416 || .350 || .710 || 3.7 || 6.4 || 1.8 || .4 || 17.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2003}}

| style="text-align:left;"| New Orleans

| 67 || 66 || 40.1 || .395 || .321 || .673 || 4.3 || 7.5 ||style="background:#CFECEC| 2.4* || .4 || 22.9

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}

| style="text-align:left;"| New Orleans

| 18 || 13 || 32.9 || .366 || .321 || .771 || 3.7 || 7.2 || 1.7 || .2 || 18.9

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Golden State

| 28 || 19 || 35.3 || .401 || .341 || .755 || 3.9 || 8.3 || 1.8 || .4 || 19.5

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2005}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Golden State

| 54 || 48 || 36.5 || .389 || .315 || .675 || 4.4 || 8.9 || 1.6 || .3 || 17.9

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2006}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Golden State

| 63 || 62 || 35.3 || .439 || .304 || .745 || 4.4 || 8.1 ||style="background:#CFECEC| 2.1* || .5 || 20.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2007}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Golden State

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 39.0 || .426 || .330 || .750 || 4.7 || 7.6 || 2.3 || .5 || 21.8

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2008}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers

| 65 || 60 || 34.6 || .370 || .302 || .757 || 3.7 || 7.7 || 1.7 || .5 || 14.9

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2009}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers

| 75 || 73 || 33.6 || .406 || .277 || .821 || 3.5 || 8.0 || 1.7 || .6 || 15.3

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2010}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers

| 43 || 35 || 29.5 || .416 || .296 || .760 || 2.8 || 7.0 || 1.4 || .5 || 12.8

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2010}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Cleveland

| 15 || 9 || 25.3 || .421 || .414 || .815 || 2.4 || 6.1 || 1.1 || .4 || 13.9

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2011}}

| style="text-align:left;"| New York

| 29 || 14 || 20.5 || .370 || .306 || .667 || 1.9 || 4.7 || 1.2 || .1 || 6.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career

| 835 || 692 || 34.2 || .409 || .320 || .711 || 3.8 || 7.2 || 1.8 || .4 || 16.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | All-Star

| 2 || 0 || 14.5 || .286 || .111 || .000 || .5 || 6.0 || .5 || .0 || 4.5

= Playoffs =

| style="text-align:left;"| 2000

| style="text-align:left;"| Charlotte

| 4 || 0 || 14.3 || .435 || .167 || .500 || 1.5 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .0 || 5.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2001

| style="text-align:left;"| Charlotte

| 10 || 10 || 39.7 || .480 || .400 || .714 || 4.4 || 5.8 || style="background:#CFECEC|2.8* || .5 || 17.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2002

| style="text-align:left;"| Charlotte

| 9 || 9 || 44.6 || .378 || .339 || .597 || 7.0 || 7.9 || style="background:#CFECEC|3.6* || .6 || 22.6

| style="text-align:left;"| 2003

| style="text-align:left;"| New Orleans

| 5 || 5 || 38.8 || .446 || .343 || .727 || 3.6 || 8.4 || 1.4 || .4 || 20.4

| style="text-align:left;"| 2004

| style="text-align:left;"| New Orleans

| 7 || 7 || 37.1 || .377 || .327 || .758 || 4.1 || 7.0 || 1.6 || .7 || 18.1

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007

| style="text-align:left;"| Golden State

| 11 || 11 || 40.5 || .513 || .373 || .770 || 4.5 || 6.5 || style="background:#CFECEC|2.9* || .6 || 25.3

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012

| style="text-align:left;"| New York

| 4 || 4 || 24.3 || .478 || .286 || 1.000 || .8 || 3.3 || .0 || .0 || 7.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career

| 50 || 46 || 37.0 || .442 || .350 || .709 || 4.3 || 6.2 || style="background:#E0CEF2;"|2.3{{Double-dagger}} || .5 || 18.8

Awards and honors

;NBA

2× NBA All-Star ({{nasg|2002}}, {{nasg|2004}})
All-NBA Third Team ({{nbay|2003|end}})
2× NBA steals leader ({{nbay|2003|end}}, {{nbay|2006|end}})
NBA Skills Challenge champion ({{nasg|2004}})

;College

AP Third-team All-American (1999)
First-team All-Pac-10 (1999)
Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (1998)
Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (1998)
Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team
UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame (2016)

;High school

Broadcasting career

Since 2017, Davis is also a regular panelist during NBA on TNT's Monday coverage called Players Only, which features only former NBA players as studio analysts, play-by-play announcers, and color analysts for games.

Career outside of basketball

=Film and television=

File:Baron Davis (cropped).jpg

In addition to his NBA career, Davis has had an increasing role in the film industry, with the intention of making it a full-time career when his playing days are over.{{cite news |first=Austin |last=Kent |title=Baron Davis' Future in Film |url=http://www.thegoodpoint.com/basketball/may11/baron-davis-future-in-film.html |work=The Good Point |date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=June 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612120004/http://www.thegoodpoint.com/basketball/may11/baron-davis-future-in-film.html |archive-date=June 12, 2011 }} His first appearance as an actor was in a TV commercial for the Charlotte Hornets prior to starting his rookie season https://vimeo.com/71988862. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, having earned membership by appearing in movies such as The Cookout and guest-starring on the ABC Family show Lincoln Heights and ABC's The Forgotten.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/features/davis_sts_index.html |title=Baron Davis' Setting the Screen |publisher=NBA |access-date=May 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031174603/http://www.nba.com/features/davis_sts_index.html |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |url-status=dead }} He has made appearances both as himself and fictional characters in movies and on television, and has also been involved in producing a number of films, ranging from The Pool Boys to Crips and Bloods: Made in America. Davis and high school friend, Cash Warren, formed a production company called Verso Entertainment in 2005.{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=McKinley |title=He Shoots! He Scores! He Makes Movies! |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/movies/24mcki.html |work=The New York Times |date=February 24, 2008 |access-date=February 24, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120701092346/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/movies/24mcki.html| archive-date=July 1, 2012| url-status= live}}

Davis appeared on the DVD commentary track of the 2008 film Step Brothers alongside Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly,{{cite video | people=Davis, Baron|year=2008|title=Commentary for the movie "Step Brothers."| medium=DVD|publisher=Columbia Pictures}} and appears as himself during season three of Hot In Cleveland.{{cite web|last=Alipour |first=Sam |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/index?id=7516283 |title=Baron Davis is starstruck on 'Hot in Cleveland' |publisher=ESPN |date=January 2, 2011 |access-date=May 20, 2012}} He appeared in the 2012 film That's My Boy as a gym teacher, and in 2015, he appeared in Yahoo! Screen's Sin City Saints, playing the role of Billy Crane. He also played himself in the 2015 film The Night Before, and portrayed a doctor in Joe Dirt 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/sports/2015/07/baron-davis-joe-dirt-2|work=Complex|title=Here's Baron Davis as a "Testicle Doctor" in Joe Dirt 2|first=Maurice|last=Peebles|date=July 15, 2015|access-date=April 16, 2016}}

On November 12, 2015, Davis co-starred alongside Kyrie Irving, Ray Allen and J. B. Smoove as Louis in the fourth episode of "Uncle Drew", a series of Pepsi Max advertisements written and directed by Irving.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY6GAOPGuPs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112145527/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY6GAOPGuPs&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2015-11-12 |url-status=dead|title=Uncle Drew | Chapter 4 | Pepsi |publisher=YouTube.com |date=November 12, 2015 |access-date=July 25, 2017}}

In Mozart in the Jungle's last three episodes of the third season, Davis made a special guest appearance as Kevin Majors, an injured NBA player.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1557577/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1|title=Baron Davis - IMDb|website=IMDb|access-date=April 6, 2019}}

Davis appeared in the 2017 Chinese film My Other Home starring Stephon Marbury.

He stars in the scripted television sitcom WTF, Baron Davis on the Fuse channel, premiering January 20, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/post-type-the-wire/wtf-baron-davis-to-have-world-tv-premiere-on-fuse-in-january|title='WTF Baron Davis' to Have World TV Premiere on Fuse in January|website=Broadcasting & Cable|author=Wire Contributor|date=December 20, 2018|access-date=January 29, 2019}}

In 2019, Davis was able to work with the director Kelly Blatz as an executive producer for the film Senior Love Triangle.{{Citation |title=Senior Love Triangle |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/senior_love_triangle |language=en |access-date=2022-08-13}}

Baron Davis the basketball player should not be confused with Baron Davis the voice actor, who did additional voices in Tarzan II and The Jungle Book 2.{{cite web |url=http://www.thegoodpoint.com/basketball/may11/baron-davis-future-in-film.html |title=The Good Point - Baron Davis' Future in Film |website=www.thegoodpoint.com |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612120004/http://www.thegoodpoint.com/basketball/may11/baron-davis-future-in-film.html |archive-date=12 June 2011 |url-status=dead}} However, Davis the basketball player did some voiceover work for the series TripTank, as Stedmund the horse.

In 2023, Davis starred as himself in Joy Ride, appearing as a player in the Chinese Basketball Association.

=Business=

In 2012, Davis formed the gaming company 5 Balloons Interactive with Sean O'Brien, formerly of EA Sports, to produce games for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Their first game was called "Getting Buckets".{{cite web|last=Robinson |first=Jon |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/tech/post/_/id/1448 |title=Baron Davis launches gaming company – Sports Technology, Gaming – Tech Blog – ESPN Playbook – ESPN |work=ESPN.com |date=August 1, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2020}}

In 2016, Davis created the Black Santa Company to promote African American stories and figures. It also sells shirts, beanies, onesies, as well as Christmas ornaments among other products.{{cite web|last=Scurlock |first=Amanda |url=https://lasentinel.net/nbas-baron-davis-created-the-black-santa-company.html |title=NBA's Baron Davis Created the Black Santa Company|publisher=Los Angeles Sentinel |date=December 21, 2016}}

In November 2019, Davis joined an advisory board for Tinley Beverage Company Inc.{{cite web | title=NBA All-Star Baron Davis Joins Tinley's Advisory Board | website=Stockhouse | date=2019-11-14 | url=https://stockhouse.com/news/press-releases/2019/11/14/nba-all-star-baron-davis-joins-tinley-s-advisory-board | access-date=2025-03-28}} He invested in Metropolis Technologies in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Shieber |first=Jonathan |date=2021-02-16 |title=LA-based Metropolis raises $41 million to upgrade parking infrastructure |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/16/la-based-metropolis-raises-41-million-to-upgrade-parking-infrastructure/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

Personal life

On January 30, 2014, Davis married former Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent Isabella Brewster, the sister of actress Jordana Brewster.{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/news/baron-davis-marries-isabella-brewster-231000759-us-weekly.html |title=Baron Davis Marries Isabella Brewster! |work=Yahoo TV |access-date=February 6, 2014 |publisher=Yahoo! TV }} In April 2014, Brewster announced she and Davis were expecting a child.{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/isabella-brewster-expecting-baby-with-nba-player-husband-baron-davis-2014134 |title=Us Weekly |date=August 13, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417091852/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/isabella-brewster-expecting-baby-with-nba-player-husband-baron-davis-2014134 |archive-date=April 17, 2015 }} In January 2016, Brewster gave birth to the couple's second child.{{cite web|first=Marc J.|last=Spears|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/baron-davis-to-sign-d-league-contract-001850710.html|title=Baron Davis to sign D-League contract|work=Yahoo.com|date=January 12, 2016|access-date=January 12, 2016}} The couple split in June 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2017/06/29/baron-davis-wife-files-for-divorce/|title = Baron Davis' Wife Isabella Brewster-Davis Files for Divorce| date=June 29, 2017 }} In late 2017, Davis was spotted on several dates with actress Laura Dern.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/laura-dern-spotted-kissing-a-sexy-nba-player-and-were-here-for-it_us_5a43f460e4b0b0e5a7a468d4|title=Laura Dern And NBA's Baron Davis Look Pretty Sexy Smooching In Public|last=Wanshel|first=Elyse|date=December 27, 2017|work=Huffington Post|access-date=December 28, 2017|language=en-US}}

References

External links

[http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/1884/ NBA.com profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401124428/http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/1884/ |date=April 1, 2016 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120614030238/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/102398aab.html UCLA bio]
{{IMDb name|1557577}}

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Category:1979 births

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Category:Crossroads School alumni

Category:Delaware 87ers players