Out of the NBA since the 2009-10 season, Ricky Davis has been playing with the Erie Bayhawks of the D-League in hopes of eventually returning.
Since he last appeared with the Los Angeles Clippers, Davis has played in Turkey, China, France, the D-League, Puerto Rico and the D-League again.
At age 34, Davis' time is likely running out, and he'll need to impress enough in the early parts of the D-League season to warrant a 10-day contract once they are allowed beginning on Jan. 6.
And on the bright side for Davis, he still looks and plays a lot like Ricky Davis. The unfortunate reality, however, is that he still looks and plays a lot like Ricky Davis. As much as it'd be entertaining as all hell to have him back in the league, there's little evidence that he'd be an appreciable addition for a team, contending or otherwise.
He can still score, but that's about it.
[Dap: CrabDribbles]
Through 10 games, Davis is averaging 15 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists and has scored 20 or more points on three occasions. His efficiency, however, can be found wanting, as he's shooting just 43.8 percent from the field and just 31.6 percent on threes.
Here's a look at how his current D-League numbers compare to his career numbers, his "peak" career numbers, and his final two seasons in the league:
| Ricky Davis | D-League | 1998-2010 | 2002-2007 | 2008-2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pts/36 | 17.9 | 16.3 | 17.3 | 10.9 |
| Rbs/36 | 6.6 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.3 |
| Ast/36 | 2.7 | 4 | 4.3 | 3.4 |
| Stl/36 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| TO/36 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.9 |
| FG% | 43.8 | 44.6 | 44.7 | 37.4 |
| 3FG% | 31.6 | 36.1 | 35.6 | 33.3 |
| TS% | 53.9 | 52.5 | 52.7 | 46.7 |
So yes, Davis' numbers are certainly better than they looked in his most recent NBA stint, but he's also playing against inferior competition.
The fact that his range doesn't appear to have returned is perhaps most concerning, since any interested NBA team would be unlikely to put the ball in his hands to create. At best, he'd be a secondary creator on a bench unit, often working off the ball (unless a team wanted ISO Ricky, which would probably only be the case if we were coaching).
There's still hope, however, that Davis finds his stroke and impresses enough that we'll see him back in the NBA once more.
And of course, never forget:
