Anthony Davis’s injury issues were even worse than advertised.
The Pelicans big man has been playing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder for three years, ever since he was a rookie, and it has sporadically bothered him. He will undergo surgery that will keep him out for 4-5 months and cost him a spot in Rio for the Olympics.
“They told me [the shoulder surgery] eventually has to happen,” Davis said Monday, via Justin Verrier of ESPN. “Gradually it’s been getting worse. Something we just got to take care of now.”
“It was bothering him here and there, but it was never to the point where — he didn’t sit any game out because of the shoulder,” coach Alvin Gentry said. “He was able to play through that situation. I think the situation right now is that this is a perfect time. He has a knee issue, so if you’re gonna take care of the knee issue, you might as well take care of the shoulder one, too. That’s where that is.”
The Pelicans are well out of the playoff race and shut Davis down accordingly for the remainder of the season. The fact that he’s played virtually his entire career with a significant shoulder injury is impressive, and one wonders how good he can be when he returns fully healthy for next year.
