New Orleans Hornets veteran forward Ryan Anderson knows a little bit about being the teammate of an NBA superstar, having spent time his three previous NBA seasons side-by-side with center Dwight Howard.
So as Hornets rookie power forward Anthony Davis, the first overall pick in the NBA draft, made the station-by-station rounds at New Orleans' media day Monday afternoon at the Alario Center, Anderson remembered the circus that enveloped the Magic as the soap opera that surrounded Howard's contract status played itself out.
He's ready, Anderson said, to offer the 19-year-old Davis some advice.
"He has a lot of buzz, a lot of hype and a lot of pressure," said Anderson, who joined the Hornets' in July in a sign-and-trade agreement with Orlando that sent Gustavo Ayon to the Magic. "He's the type of guy who's going to be good as he puts the work in to be. I think, obviously, he has the ability, the natural ability, the physical ability. He can just play. He has a great sense and knack for the game.
"A guy like him (you can) never be relaxed, just listen to people tell you how great you are. Just keep working at it and keep getting better. I think he needs to get stronger. That's a big thing for him. But as long as he keeps working and has the same head that he has now, he's got a very bright future. I'm excited to see where his career is going to go."
Time management, however, could be as crucial to Davis' first-year success as the steps he takes to improve his physical presence, court awareness and strength and conditioning.