The New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly earned a reputation around the NBA when it comes to injuries, and that may not be good for trying to keep Anthony Davis on the roster.
Davis has certainly been drawing plenty of attention around the league due to various trade rumors, but for now, he's providing his usual stellar production in New Orleans.
However, some have suggested that the team's issues with injuries may be part of a bigger problem.
From Tom Haberstroh of NBC Sports:
Last season, the Pelicans suffered the most player games lost due to injury, per an InStreetClothes.com analysis, costing the team nearly $30 million in lost salary. The season before that, they ranked third-last in games lost due to injury. The season before that, they ranked dead-last again. Over the last five seasons, the Pelicans have lost the second-most games due to injury or illness. Only the Sixers have fared worse over the last five seasons, which has been well-chronicled.
This pattern isn’t a total anomaly if you ask rival team executives, who have long chided the Pelicans’ medical team for being run by “football guys” instead of those who have experience in the NBA. Fair or not, the Pelicans are fighting against a league-wide perception.
“The organization only cares about the Saints,” one league exec told NBC Sports.
Davis is averaging 28.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this season, which once again has him among the top playmakers in the NBA.
But with the Pelicans struggling to a 17-22 record at this point in the season, there will likely continue to be frustrations with the team's star player.
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