HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Beardman era is over. Baron Davis and Li-Ning have split up. CounterKicks can confirm that Li-Ning initiated an early termination of Baron’s endorsement deal, which was originally signed in 2008 and not due to expire until later in 2013. counterkicks.com

New York Knicks, Sneakers, Baron Davis 

Our sources tell us Baron’s 5-year Li-Ning contract was paying him in the neighborhood of $1.5 million per year, which would total an approximate $7.5 million at full payout. counterkicks.com

New York Knicks, Sneakers, Baron Davis 

Apparently Baron Davis and Jose Calderon nearly got into an altercation after the game. Remember, the Air Canada Centre has a strange dynamic where both teams exit through the same tunnel. Apparently Davis and Calderon collided toward the end of the game and Davis apparently felt that Calderon tried to grab him around the head, so he was waiting for the Raptors point guard in the tunnel after the game. However, Tyson Chandler held Davis back, preventing him from getting into any trouble with the league... Give the big man an assist. Newark Star-Ledger

New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Jose Manuel Calderon, Baron Davis 

Chris Mannix: Lin, not so much. One scout says Baron Davis's skills fit better. Another says change "probably going to cost Lin millions in new contract." Twitter

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis 

Chris Mannix: Scouts telling me this coaching change should benefit Melo immediately. Woodson's offense heavy on isolation, two-man game, misdirection. Twitter

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis 

On top of that, Baron Davis, who just returned from a back injury, is unhappy with his limited role as Lin's backup. Davis, averaging just 17 minutes a game, has already spoken to D'Antoni about giving him more playing time, according to the sources. While Lin wants to run D'Antoni's system, Davis is more in line with running the offense through Anthony and Stoudemire, the sources said. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis 

Baron Davis called T.J. Ford and spent about 45 minutes on the telephone with him Monday to apologize for being involved in the play that ultimately ended Ford's career. Last week in San Antonio, Davis ran inside to get position for a rebound and his forearm hit Ford, who immediately crumbled to the floor. Ford has a history of neck and spine problems. He announced Monday that he is retiring from basketball. "He was just saying it was like a blessing in disguise," Davis said. "The fall scared him. The hit scared him. He basically was saying it wasn't my fault. It was basketball. I just let him know I have a great deal of respect for him, love for him. He's like a little brother of mine. I just felt bad. I just felt real bad to be involved in a play like that because it's not in my nature and my character." Newsday

New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, TJ Ford, Baron Davis 

Baron Davis: Great phone convo wit @TJ Ford. sad that he is retiring and feeling worse that I was involved in that play! love and respect bro. #tears Twitter

New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, TJ Ford, Baron Davis 

Baron Davis: Rubio smh. Damn ! Praying for you! Wishing you a speedy recovery. You will be stronger than ever!!!! Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Ricky Rubio, Injuries, Baron Davis 

In addition to rediscovering his groove, Davis has also developed a humility that has done wonders for the Knicks’ chemistry. There was a time when Davis would have been livid over a reserve role behind an unproven player like Lin, but Davis seems to understand his role, and he’s playing it to the fullest. “Basketball is basketball,” Davis said. “Whether you start, whether you come off the bench, you’ve just got to make the most of the minutes you’re out there and that’s all I’m worried about at this point.” FOXSports.com

New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis 

Davis, who says he still doesn’t feel comfortable playing more than 15 or so minutes per game, also acknowledges that he’s not back to 100 percent just yet. So, really, he’s just happy to be on the floor. “There’s some things out there that I can’t do, and a lot of things that I still need to work on as far as timing and my explosiveness and also just my strength and conditioning,” Davis said. “But whatever I have, I’m going to give it all out there on the floor, coming off the bench for 15 minutes, giving Jeremy some time. That’s all I can do at this point, is just give it my all.” FOXSports.com

New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis 

Q: How do you and Jeremy Lin mesh? Baron Davis: I think our games complement each other. Q: How so? A: He’s an attack, attack, attack, attack. Like he’s speed and fast. I’m more so kinda shifty and at a different pace than his. I’m more like pass first than I am scoring. ... He plays like north- south ... straight lines. ... I play like ... in squiggly lines. Jeremy sets the defense up because he attacks, attacks, attacks and gets in the paint and puts a lot of pressure on the defense. Then when they’re used to that pressure, when I come in, it’s like, “Oh, he’s not going all the way to the basket. He’s stopping, and he’s finding.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis 

Q: Describe your first NBA coach with the Charlotte Hornets, Paul Silas. A: I just thought that I was gonna just take the NBA by storm, and he was just like, “Nope.” (Laugh). I remember times that I would be dribbling up the court, and he’d be yelling at me, and I’d be yelling back at him (laugh), and then, the next day at practice, I’d be pouting, and he was like, “Oh, you mad, you mad at me? Come here, give me a hug.” He was really teaching me how to lead those veteran guys. New York Post

Charlotte Bobcats, New York Knicks, Coaching, Paul Silas, Baron Davis 

Q: What is your production company’s next documentary? Baron Davis: It’s called “American Schlaub.” It’s about men’s fashion, and how we’ve gone from the fashion capital of the world in the United States to like the laughingstock, and how nobody cares about how they dress or how they look. Q: Describe your ”Crips & Bloods” documentary. A: I wanted to make it for kids to see it in schools, because a lot of times perception of being in a gang and being a thug and being tough. Kids don’t really know what that means, and they don’t really know the stakes. Q: Life after basketball? A: Either acting, or I do want to be the head basketball coach at UCLA. That would be a dream come true. Carry on Wooden’s legacy. New York Post

New York Knicks, Baron Davis 

Q: You said you thrive on pressure. Is that because of your childhood in South Central L.A.? A: Absolutely. ... Every day was more like survival ... seeing friends get locked up ... seeing friends dying. ... I think I’ve been to like 20 funerals, by the time I was 13, 14 years old. Basketball was always a release, so when the pressure comes, it’s almost like I’m used to those pressure situations. I’m used to being able to navigate my way through ’em. So, basketball, that’s just the fun part. You know that nothing serious (chuckle) is gonna happen. I don’t mind being the hero or the goat. Q: Describe the riots. A: Basically, the ABC Market that was burning down, flames were flying on my house. I remember as a child I had to take the water hose and water the roof so our house wouldn’t burn down. New York Post

New York Knicks, Baron Davis 

Al Iannazzone: Baron Davis today: "This team, we’re a lot closer than a lot of people think. We just have to build that chemistry in practice." Twitter

New York Knicks, Baron Davis 

The Knicks have a point guard on their roster that owns a crucial piece of NBA history—and his name isn't Jeremy Lin. Baron Davis, who made his season debut last week, is the only NBA player ever to wear No. 85. He first chose the number while playing for the Cavaliers last season to honor his grandmother's home on 85th Street in Los Angeles. Unlike most other major basketball leagues, which have strict policies regarding uniform numbers, the NBA generally lets players pick any number they want. There's essentially one rule: A team can have a "0" and a "00," but it cannot have both. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Baron Davis 

When the Knicks play the Mavericks on Sunday at the Garden, Baron Davis is planning to see his first action of the season after missing the first 31 games with a herniated disk in his back. “It will be a good chance for me to get some minutes,”' he said after practice on Saturday in Greenburgh. “I want to get out there and see where I am, what I need to work on, what’s bothering me and the things I need to correct.” New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Baron Davis 

The first adjustment for Davis is a much-welcomed one for the 13-year veteran. Jeremy Lin’s surprisingly strong play has stopped all the talk of Davis filling the role of the team’s savior. Before Lin burst on the scene two weeks ago, the Knicks’ playmaking and offense were in such a shambles that Davis was being cast in an almost impossible situation. “Now I’m not the savior and I’m fine with that,” he said. “Jeremy is doing an excellent job. To be able to come in and give him some spot minutes here and there, I think I will only make the team better. That’s why they signed me, because they know I can come in here and help.” New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Baron Davis 

Baron Davis is almost ready to make his Knicks’ debut. It could come Sunday against Dallas, Monday against the Nets or Wednesday at Atlanta. But Davis “can go,” according to coach Mike D’Antoni, and the veteran guard said he expects to play before the All-Star break begins next week. Newsday

New York Knicks, Injuries, Baron Davis