Brad Stevens calls Anthony Davis a top 10 player in the NBA, is he right?


Following New Orleans' 121-120 win over Boston last night, here's what the Celtics head coach had to say about the Pelican's young star:


Davis put up 40 points and 21 rebounds yesterday, the first 40/20 game in franchise history for the Pelicans (formerly the Hornets).  Via Celtics radio play-by-play man Sean Grande, Davis also became the first player to go for 40 and 20 against Boston since Shaquille O'Neal in 2003.  Davis went 12-12 at the free throw line as well, and hit two huge top of the key jumpers in the final minute of regulation that appeared to lock up the win each time (but the C's kept battling back).  They were both eerily reminiscent of when another Pelican/Hornet big man knocked the Celtics out of the playoffs 21 years ago:



Is Stevens right?  Is Anthony Davis one of the 10 best players in the league?  He's averaging 21.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game.  Davis has scored 28 or more in each of his last 6 outings, and currently ranks 4th on ESPN's player rater behind only Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and LeBron.  Here's a quick list of candidates for the top 10 players in the NBA (don't hold me to the order):

1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Curry
4. Kevin Love
5. Paul George
6. Carmelo
7. Dirk
8. Chris Paul
9. Blake Griffin
10. Dwight Howard?  James Harden?  Russell Westbrook?  Kobe?  Derrick Rose?  Kyrie Irving?  Joakim Noah?  Davis?

If Anthony Davis isn't quite a top 10 guy yet, he's definitely very close.  And he's still just 21 years old.


Follow Mark Vandeusen on twitter @LucidSportsFan