After a hectic summer filled with USA Basketball practices and games, as well as a travel itinerary that took him across the country and halfway around the globe, no one would’ve blamed New Orleans Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis for needing an extended breather. Instead, the 21-year-old opted to take only a week of “vacation,” before returning to his workout regimen Tuesday morning, a week prior to the Pelicans’ training camp opening on Sept. 30.

After a winning a gold medal in Spain on Sept. 14, Davis immediately headed to the Pelicans’ team headquarters and practice facility in Metairie. Over the past week-plus, he’s already participated in a USA Basketball press conference with head coach Monty Williams, as well as Tuesday’s alternate-uniform unveiling. While speaking to reporters in his brand-new red uni, Davis sounded eager to get back on the court with his NBA teammates.

“I had about a week off. (Pelicans coaches) wanted me to take more time off, but any basketball player who loves the game is going to be around the game,” he said. “Just being around the game is going to make you want to play. We have guys here who’ve been in the gym doing voluntary workouts, who don’t have to be there. Eric (Gordon’s) back, Jrue (Holiday’s) back, Ryan (Anderson), Tyreke (Evans). So we’re all just trying to work and get better.”

Although Davis has played a lot of basketball lately, he hasn’t suited up in a game for New Orleans since April 6, a span of nearly six months. He sat out the final five games of the regular season after aggravating a back injury.

“Just being back with the guys,” Davis said of what he’s enjoyed most since returning home from the FIBA World Cup in Spain. “We haven’t been playing with each other in four or five months. Just to be back with those guys, making each other better, those are the kind of things that you value. So I’m just happy to be back. Lord willing that we stay healthy, but it’s fun to see all of our guys playing with each other and playing as a unit. Hopefully we can stay healthy the whole season and make a push this year.”

After acquiring a true starting center in Omer Asik in June, Pelicans players believe they have the full complement of parts to compete for a playoff berth in the extremely competitive Western Conference. As a result of playing internationally recently, Williams has suggested that he may somewhat limit Asik’s and Davis’ minutes during preseason games, but the Pelicans will use the next few weeks to prepare for the Oct. 28 regular season opener vs. Orlando.

“We’ve got great talent – we’ve got all of the pieces that we need,” Davis said. “Now it’s about figuring everything out. Our coaching staff does a great job of doing that. When we have training camp and preseason, we’re going to use that to make sure when that first game comes around, we get the ball rolling. … I had a great time over there in Spain. Now it’s time to get back to work.”