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In a recent interview with Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans striker, ESPN's Rachel Nichols asked him what his place was among the NBA's elite players, his change of representation and his role in the Pelicans' direction this season. A revised transcript of the interview appears below:
Nichols: What does Chicago mean to you?
Davis: It means a lot. This is my hometown. It is there that I grew up. It's the city that I represent every time I play. I like that. My family is here. Bring back a lot of memories, just be here right now. And we talked about doing field trips here at The Bean. Of course, everyone around us is showing love. So, every time I come back to town, it means a lot to me to be here.
Nichols: I was trying to make a list of the best players in Chicago ever. And you have Isiah Thomas – well, I do not count, like Kevin Garnett, because he was only there for a year, is not it?
Davis: Yeah. Yes, we count it.
Nichols: Do you count it?
Davis: We count half. He is halfway.
Nichols: D & # 39; agreement. Well half. Isiah Thomas.
Davis: Yes.
Nichols: You have Dwyane Wade, Tim Hardaway, George Mikan is here.
Davis: I did not know that.
Nichols: Yes, I just learned when I had to look for it. Also the cheeks of Mo. Where do you think, when you will all be told and done, will you adapt to that? It's a very good group.
Davis: It's a good group. Big group. Elite group. When I finish, I want to be at the top. When you talk about Chicago basketball, I want to be the first person people think about. First name that people mention. I have a long way to go, obviously. But I think it's something that can be achieved, and it will be my goal from now on.
Nichols: So you were talking about how you want to be the best football player in Chicago, but what about this NBA now? Where do you see yourself in the NBA from today?
Davis: Honestly, I consider myself the best player in the league, the most dominant player in the league. I think it's time for this step. You only get a short window. And, I do not want this window to close, so I think my time is up.
Nichols: So give me sell it. Why should I put you in front of guys like LeBron [James]Kevin Durant?
Davis: Do not get me wrong, these two are very good players, but I think I bring something unique to the table. My game is different from these two guys. Both ends on the ground. I was MVP candidate and defensive player candidate of the year, that 's why I think my name should figure at the top of the list.
Nichols: When you look at the guys who are always mentioned as those top players, you talk about LeBron, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Steph Curry. These four guys reached the finals of the NBA. Three of them have several championship rings. How much do you think winning should be part of this whole conversation?
Davis: I think it must be. It's a big part. Winning certainly helps everything. It helps with your inheritance. It helps to be at the top of this list. So for me – yes, people see everything I do. But not to advance in the playoffs or go in sets every three years does not help my case.
Nichols: You can only go to the extent that the team around you is designed to go. Will there be a point for you that if the Pelicans can not get you into the NBA playoffs, you will have to think about going elsewhere?
Davis: At this point, it's all about winning for me and being the most dominant player in the league. And whenever that time comes, I have a great team behind me who advises me on certain decisions. But I'm currently focusing on this year, focusing on our pre-season game tomorrow and starting the good season.
Nichols: You recently changed agent. You are now with Rich Paul, who – of course – his most famous client is LeBron James and – of course – as soon as that happens, everyone says to himself: "AD to the Lakers, it will happen AD will ask for a trade to the Lakers. "How did you hear that from everywhere?
Davis: Oh, you hear it everywhere. And it's funny. How even – how do these things correlate?
Nichols: Well, you know how it correlates.
Davis: Yes, I mean, of course. But in my head, as I said, I do not pay attention. And I keep coming back to it, but that 's the truth, I look at what I have now and what I can do now. And that helps my team win. You can not listen to what anyone else says, nor listen to all the white noise, or "AD's going here, he's going here, he's going here."
Well, AD is playing for pelicans this year. My job is to win and help these guys as much as possible in the field. And the rest will take care of itself.
Nichols: People forget, I think too, that the Pelicans are the team that, next summer, can offer you a Supermax contract. They could make you the highest paid player in the NBA. How important is something like this to you?
Davis: It's important, of course. But, as I said, I want to win. But when the time comes, we will get there. My biggest thing is to focus on this year. Help my guys. And as I said, the rest will take care of itself at that time.
Nichols: What gives you confidence in the New Orleans team this year?
Davis: The way we play When you play at a fast pace – as practices and training camp have been misclassified. Danny Crawford was there and he said, "Man, you're going strong, you both fight." And as the same thing we have, everyone is focused. We have no distractions. Everyone likes it and everyone likes to play with each other until now.
Nichols: I was looking at the lists of pelicans in recent years and the amount of change you had to deal with. I want to know if you can tell me how many players you have played in the last three seasons?
Davis: Count the players of the G League?
Nichols: The guys who were ready to play with you in an NBA game.
Davis: At least 50.
Nichols: Fifty-one.
Davis: Yes I knew it.
Nichols: Three seasons; 51 teammates you had in three seasons. When you have so many changes around you, you must learn to be the constant voice. It puts you in a leadership role, whether you like it or not.
Davis: Last year, DeMarcus was the bad cop. I was the good cop. Someone is not well, he is DeMarcus. And then I've always been that guy who did silly things. And then, of course, you had Rondo. So when these guys left, I insisted that the coach was not obliged to say, "Okay, guys, you have to take it up" or " Everyone is listening "or" We must hurry up ". me. That's me now. And it feels good because you have guys who want to follow you. But somebody has to lead, and I played that role a little bit.
Nichols: It has been striking to see you at the All-Star Games over the years or the minicamp of the US team last summer. When you arrived with these kinds of groups, your eyes were always wide open. Like, "I can not believe I'm sitting here with these guys." And then now, you're one of the main types of other people: "I can not believe I'm sitting here and that's where AD is here." What does it do?
Davis: Oh, it's amazing. When I got into the Olympics, I was the first to say, "Oh, man, there's LeBron, Oh, there's Kobe, oh." Kobe would say, "Dude, young guy, let's have dinner." And I thought, "Wow, Kobe wants me to go with him. But now, it's like, "What's up, LeBron, what's up, Kobe?" Because it's not fair that I feel like one of these guys, I know I'm one of those guys.
Nichols: Well, you went out and said it. You do not just want to be one of those guys, you want to be the guy.
Davis: The guy.
Nichols: You wrote the check. Are you ready to go out and cash it this season?
Davis: I am ready to cash it. Cash it in all the banks of the world. As I said, I know all the confidence I have in my abilities, my game and my skills. And my team knows it. And now, it's only a matter of time before we go there and do it for the season. We'll get out guns.
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