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March 3, 2016Former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Baron Davis has been eyeing a return to the NBA ever since signing a contract with the NBA D-League and joining the player pool in January. The first step to his return took place Wednesday when, according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania, Davis signed with Philadelphia 76ers’ D-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers. He will join the team for the rest of the season.
Baron Davis, a former NBA All-Star, has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers' D-League affiliate (Delaware), sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 2, 2016
Davis, now 36, last played professional basketball in 2012 with the New York Knicks. He averaged just 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 37 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc in 20.5 minutes per game.
From the 87ers’ official announcement:
“Our organizational efforts continue to center on finding, developing, and providing opportunity to talented professionals,” said Philadelphia 76ers Chief of Staff and Delaware 87ers General Manager, Brandon D. Williams. “Baron still has much to contribute to the game, and we are excited to play a role as he transitions through the next phase of his successful career.”
The former All-Star’s rumored return began in 2014, when he posted a video on YouTube that featured two-time MVP Steve Nash saying Davis wanted to make a comeback. In February 2015, reports surfaced saying that Davis wanted to make a return and was in discussions with multiple playoff contenders, including the Cavs. Then, in August of the same year, that return became even more serious when he claimed that he could play about 20 minutes per game for any NBA team.
In case you forget, Davis played for the Cavaliers during the 2010-11 season. With Cleveland, he averaged 13.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 42 percent from the field and 41 percent from behind the three-point line. He was acquired by the Cavs in February 2011 along with an unprotected first-round pick in 2011 in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. That pick wound up being No. 1 overall and the Cavaliers selected point guard Kyrie Irving. After just 15 games (nine starts), the Cavs released Davis through the amnesty clause.