Photo. Tim Tadder

An article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle tells the story of how Baron Davis met Jerry West on the street over the summer. The two became tight and The Logo counseled BD on how to handle not receiving a contact extension from the Warriors when he wanted one.

Davis had a chip on his shoulder. He had just gone public with his semi-demand that the Warriors extend his contract, which ends after next season. He said if the Warriors did not do so, he would play out this season and most likely walk away from the final year of the contract. Davis was setting the stage to arrive in camp as an unhappy camper, on a team where chemistry is everything.

Talking to West, Davis talked tough, said he was going to let the Warriors know he was unhappy. Davis expected that West, who had his contract squabbles as a player, would lend a sympathetic ear. He did not.

“That’s the wrong approach,” West told Davis, quietly.

Davis said, “He gave me a lot of Basketball Business 101. Did it cause a shift in my thinking? Yeah.”

West told Davis he would look bad, alienate everyone, ruin his image. He told Davis not to take the contract situation personally. He told Davis, “The most important thing is that you’re in a good place, playing for a coach who lets you play your game, uninhibited. You’re in a perfect position with the Warriors. Be positive. Just go up there, shut up and play.”

West’s honesty took Davis by surprise.

“He never told me what I wanted to hear,” Davis said. “He always told me what was right. It was a satisfying feeling to not hear somebody sugarcoat something. … Sometimes when you’re (famous), or you’re the star player on a team, a lot of people don’t want to put a dent in your ego. … Constructive criticism for me is a must and a need. That’s why I think I have been able to play so well under coach Nellie, because he’s like that.

Check out the full article HERE.