Runnin - n - Gunnin

I will save you from the gruesome visual (you know, an indent in the knee…) but here’s the most recent news from Baron Davis’ injury during Game 4 of the Heat-Knicks series via Howard Beck of the New York Times:

Baron Davis’ knee injury much worse than thought: partial tear of patella tendon, complete tears of ACL and MCL. 12 month recovery

Sadly, a 12 month recovery could very well mean the end of his NBA career.  Davis is 33 years old, passed his prime, and has been injury ridden for the latter part of his playing days.  He wasn’t anywhere near the player he was with Charlotte and Golden State in this abbreviated season with New York, but he showed he can still be a serviceable (and like-able) player, even coming off the bench behind Jeremy Lin.  Though 33 isn’t near being young in the NBA anymore, he still had a few years left to contribute in the league, but with this injury those odds are looking slim.

Baron Davis is definitely one of my favorite players in the NBA, starting from his times with the Hornets when he would electrify the Charlotte crowds (back when they had crowds…).  Of course, my favorite moments came when Davis led the Golden State Warriors’ We Believe squad to a first round upset against the Dallas Mavericks in 2007.  Davis we complete beast mode, averaging 25 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks in those 6 games.  And of course, no one can forget that incredible slam against AK47 in the second round vs. the Jazz.  

It is rare to see what Baron Davis and that We Believe team was able to do to the Warriors fanbase, and that energy only helped fuel their success.  Sure, that team was just a matchup nightmare for that 2007 Mavs team, but there was a real magic going on in the Bay Area that year.  

Though I was bitter when Davis opted out of his contract with the Warriors in order to sign with the LA Clippers, I can’t hate the fact that he wanted to play in his hometown (he never played well with them anyway…).  

This knee injury just might end his career, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed that he fully recovers and finds his way back onto the court one way or another.