"I wanted to get my swagger back, my focus back on who I am as a player and how I can be effective for this franchise,'' he said during our conversation Sunday. "I put in the time and lots and lots and lots of yoga and conditioning and good eating. It put me in a better place -- more balanced, more focused.''
On mending his relationship with Dunleavy...
"We got a chance to go to lunch and talk and establish our own relationship, to where now we trust each other more,'' Davis said. "After the season, I reached out to him and we would check in once every two weeks or so. He would ask me to go to lunch or I would ask him. He's just a real cool dude, he's a good guy off the court, and it's good to see somebody outside of this [NBA] element where there's so much pressure, so much intensity. It was good to get away from the game and find out who he is as a man.''
Assistant coach John Lucas was brought in to further improve the relationship between head coach and point guard. Dunleavy believes in watching film with his team and executing plays, which is antithetical to the free-flowing style Davis enjoyed with Don Nelson at Golden State.
"I was taught throughout my years in the league to play more off instincts,'' Davis said, "and I think here that has changed. It's more structured, more controlled. It's more geared toward recognizing the mismatch, whereas the other teams that I've played for I had a lot more leeway to create.''
Davis now recognizes how much he shares in common with his coach.
Baron's new passion...
"It's something I never thought that I'd be wanting to do,'' he said. "But [Davis and the coaches] always talk about the game. [Dunleavy] lets me draw plays in practice. I'm overjoyed right now. I just know there's a lot more in it for this organization. The future is definitely going to be bright and I'm doing everything I possibly can do to work and to make that happen.''
Ian Thomsen, Sports Illustrated
