New Orleans Pelicans power-forward Anthony Davis wears his No. 23 jersey to honor the great Michael Jordan. This season, Davis is the best power-forward in the NBA, and has lived up to the number on the back of his jersey in incredible fashion.

Davis recently said in an interview with ESPN’s SportsCenter that he idolized Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett growing up. In just his third season in the league, Davis is already on a fast track to becoming a better player than Garnett ever was.

Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, leads all power-forwards with 24.8 points per game this season, which ranks tied for third among the league leaders in scoring, according to the NBA.com. Davis is averaging a double-double this season, with 10.6 rebounds per game.

Davis is also the best all-around defensive player in the league among power-forwards. Davis is tied for third in the league with 2.1 steals per game, and 2.9 blocks per game, according to CBSSports.com. Davis also averages 7.8 defensive rebounds per game, which ranks third among power forwards.

Davis has also proven to be clutch when at the free-throw line. Davis is converting on 76 percent of his free throw attempts, which ranks fourth on the team. Players of Davis’ size aren’t usually the best free-throw shooters, but Davis has shattered the mold.

Davis has steadily improved throughout his three seasons in the NBA. Through 20 games this season, Davis is averaging career bests in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, assists, field-goal percentage and minutes per game, according to ESPN.com.

Davis’ former coach at the University of Kentucky, John Calipari, said the third-year player will be the NBA’s best player within the next five years.

“Right now, you look at (Davis) and say, ‘Man, in five years, he could be the best player in the NBA,’ “ Calipari said in an interview with CBSSports.com. “He’s understanding that he is a lead dog among a number of alpha dogs.”

One of the most dominant power-forwards in NBA history, Charles Barkley, recently said that Davis deserves to be in the discussion among the best players in the league right now.

“If you haven’t got a chance to see Anthony Davis play, man, you’ve got to,” Barkley said on his NBA on TNT show. “It’s LeBron, Kevin Durant. Those are the best two players by far. The next player who is going to step in there is Anthony Davis.”

Davis is quickly rising among the NBA player rankings, and is already the best at his position. The best part is the 21-year-old talent is only going to get better as time passes.