Anthony Davis wants Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of Year awards

Months after winning a national title with Kentucky, Anthony Davis set lofty goals for his rookie NBA season. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Anthony Davis has lofty goals for his inaugural season in the NBA with the New Orleans Hornets. He wants to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year award and is aiming for an even bigger goal, too: Defensive Player of the Year.

Davis sat down recently for a Q&A with The New York Times' Joe Brescia, where it became clear that the glow of winning a gold medal with Team USA had worn off on Davis.

From the Q&A:

Q. What part of your game do you want to improve?

A. I want to get stronger. Improve my ball-handling and become a better shooter.

Q.What do you want to accomplish in your first season in the N.B.A.?

A.Win rookie of the year. Make first-team all-rookie, first-team all-defense and defensive player of the year.

Davis has had quite a year — in addition to a gold medal, he also led Kentucky to a national championship. He will be part of a revamped young lineup that includes fellow Top 10 draft pick Austin Rivers and the re-signed guard Eric Gordon.

"Eric is a great player," Davis told the Times. "One of the best in the league. He doesn’t get enough credit. He’s the whole package. Shoots and plays defense. We have to find the right pieces and approach the season as winners."