Just yesterday, Pelicans' management announced they had reinstated Anthony Davis into their lineup for the first time since agent Rich Paul ushered in his trade request. To Anthony Davis' credit, his return did inspire the Pelicans to a 122-117 win over their Western Conference rivals the Minnesota Timberwolves with Davis' 32 points and 9 rebounds proving the difference by no chance at all.
Although it's in the best interest that Anthony Davis re-patriates himself with his teammates and continues his stellar play, the Pelican fans seem the least bit thrilled to see him back. Just call it an episode bittersweet love, or rather a steep decline of a 7-year marriage - whatever you will but Anthony Davis was on the wrong end of some boos last night, and the Pelicans are but 56 games into an 82-game schedule, 15 of which they must play in front of their home crowd.
"That was definitely awkward," Davis said of his home crowd reception. "Boo? OK. It doesn't matter to me. I'm going to go out there and play basketball. I was (surprised). But hey, that's life, man. Some people are not gonna like me. I'm just happy to be back on the floor playing the game that I love."
The New Orleans next home game is on Tuesday, February 12th against the Orlando Magic. Hopefully, cooler heads prevail in the long march to the NBA postseason. In my opinion, Davis's home crowd reception will only worsen the longer he sticks to his laurels.
