Stampede's Davis named 2003-04 League Most Valuable Player
March 15, 2004 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Boise, ID (March 15, 2004) — The Continental Basketball Association announced today that Idaho Stampede All-Star forward Josh Davis was named the 2003-04 League Most Valuable Player, as voted on by CBA head coaches. It is the second post-season award for Davis, who was also named the CBA Newcomer of the Year on Thursday, March 11.
“Josh’s approach this season is exactly the way you dream of it if you are a coach,” stated Stampede Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak, whose team is set to play in the 2004 CBA Finals. “Josh has been with us since the first day of training camp, and he has held his head high and worked extremely hard. It is very rewarding to see that he is getting what he deserves.
“When you are near the top in scoring and rebounding, like Josh was, that really gets recognized. If you take him away from our team, I do not know that we would have had the same success without him. Josh has been as consistent as anybody in the league.”
In 40 games (39 started) with the Stampede, Davis averaged 18.7 points (9th in the league) and 9.6 rebounds (4th in the league) per game. He also added 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per contest, while shooting 59 percent (299 of 507) from the floor (7th in the league), 82.4 percent (89 of 108) from the free-throw line, and 41.1 percent (60 of 146) from behind the three-point line (7th in the league).
The University of Wyoming standout was the CBA Player of the Week for the week of December 28 – January 3, when he posted 20.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, leading the Stampede to a 3-1 record during the week. He was also named to the 2004 American All-Star Team, and posted 18 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes of action during the 20th CBA All-Star Classic.
On Tuesday, March 9, Davis was called-up to the Atlanta Hawks, where he made his NBA debut the following night, grabbing three rebounds in ten minutes of action for the Hawks.
Sioux Falls Skyforce forward Leonard White was second in the balloting, while Dakota Wizards forward Kaniel Dickens and Stampede guard Randy Livingston tied for third. To be eligible, players must have played in 24 (1/2 of the 48 game schedule) games and be in good standing with the CBA. Coaches could not vote for their own players.
The post-season award is the fourth for the Stampede this season. On Monday, March 8, guard DeSean Hadley was named the Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate David Bailey earned Rookie of the Year honors on Wednesday, March 10.
On Tuesday, March 16, the All-League First and Second Teams will be announced.
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