NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Glen Davis joined the Los Angeles Clippers in New Orleans but wasn’t cleared to play against the Pelicans on Monday night because he still needed to pass a physical.
In the meantime, the former LSU star spoke of his eagerness to bring his championship experience from his Boston Celtics days to coach Doc Rivers’ current team.
“I know what to expect. I know what it’s going to take,” Davis said.
“A lot of people don’t know the experience of champagne hitting your face.”
Davis averaged 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 45 games this season before the Orlando Magic, who are not in playoff contention, bought out his contract, making him a free agent.
“Right now I feel real happy knowing I can go to a team that really needs me,” Davis said.
Davis fielded several offers, but said his decision came down to understanding “what you’re trying to accomplish for yourself and what you see yourself doing in the future.”
“I really just felt the Clippers are headed in the right direction,” Davis continued. “They’re young. They’ve got a great coach, a great point guard, a great rising star like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, guys you could build around.”
Rivers said his past relationship with Davis made the move a comfortable one for both.
“He knows me and I know him,” Rivers said. “I think that’s the situation he wanted to be in.”
Davis played with the Celtics for four seasons, starting with his rookie campaign in 2007-08, when the Celtics won the NBA title.
Davis said rejoining Rivers allows him at least some familiarity with the Clippers’ scheme, if not their personnel.
“I knew a lot of the plays. It’s really simple, easy, but at the same time, deadly. That’s what Doc has,” Davis said. “The adjustment, I feel like it’s going to be easy. You’ve just got to know who you’re playing with, know their tendencies … and make it more of a chemistry feel. So it’s going to take a couple games, a couple weeks and practices.”
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