NEW ORLEANS—His own coach at Kentucky and the one competing in the same state, John Calipari and Rick Pitino, both made the Bill Russell comparison last weekend. Calipari even asked directly: Do you, Anthony Davis, know who Bill Russell is?
Yes, Davis does know, and later on that day, he jabbed back at Calipari: “See, he thought I didn’t know who he was.”
Davis had better get used to it, though. From now until his soon-to-begin NBA career ends, he’ll be questioned about other legendary big men. Tim Duncan. Patrick Ewing. Hakeem Olajuwon. Shaquille O’Neal. Alonzo Mourning. Bill Walton.
Dare we say, even Lew Alcindor? Does the 19-year-old Davis, fresh off one of the dominant first collegiate seasons anyone has ever seen, capped by an unforgettable showing in the national championship game, know him?
No, this isn’t an exercise in the limits of hyperbole. The first mention of Russell—from Pitino, after Louisville had the sky blotted out by Davis in the national semifinals Saturday—seemed a bit over the top at the time. Not any more.
Speaking of limits, it’s now far too restricting just to discuss the 6-foot-10 Davis in the context of the greatest freshman seasons ever. Or in the context of simply college basketball, for that matter. Forget “Never Nervous” Pervis Ellison and Carmelo Anthony, his predecessors as freshmen Final Four most outstanding players, and Kevin Durant, the last previous freshman to be named national player of the year.
It takes reaching into the pros to find players who compare to Davis, who controlled games without scoring.
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