NBA players have had success before on Dancing With the Stars, but Baron Davis admits he was apprehensive about joining the cast for season 34.
“[I] was a little hesitant,” Davis, 46, told Us Weekly exclusively. “You go back and forth, and you’re like, you know, if you do this, you’re all in, and you’re dancing in front of people, a lot of people on TV.”
But once he made the decision, the two-time All-Star point guard shifted into preparation mode, putting his “anxiety and nervousness” aside.
“I get that as an athlete, before games, before practice, and that just means that, like, I’m readying myself for something,” he said.
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars is shaping up to be the best yet. The complete cast of celebrities and pros was announced during the Wednesday, September 3, episode of Good Morning America ahead of the September 16 season premiere following a high-energy performance from Jenna Johnson, Derek Hough and more DWTS favorites. The […]
Davis, who last played in the NBA for the New York Knicks in 2012, will partner with Britt Stewart, who is making her sixth appearance on the series as a pro. She most recently partnered with Eric Roberts for season 33 and the duo placed 10th. Her best finish came during season 31 alongside her future husband, Daniel Durant, when they placed fifth.
“She’s, like, adorable, she’s sweet,” Davis said. “She just got married. She’s sharing her story. and I’m just like, ‘OK, like, all right, coach, whatever you want me to do, all right, partner, whatever you want.’ She’s just the greatest.” (Stewart and Durant, 35, tied the knot in August after nearly three years together.)
The feeling is mutual. Stewart, 35, has partnered with athletes before, previously teaming up with figure skater Johnny Weir and former NFL running back Adrian Peterson. Her first impression of Davis was that he was “completely authentic.”
“I saw who Baron was as soon as he walked through the door,” she said. “And I really vibe with that, because that’s how I like to proceed in life. And then getting to know him, I’m like, ‘oh my goodness, he is lovely, like he is vibrant and friendly, and his energy is contagious.’”
Less than one year after Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant competed together on Dancing With the Stars, they sparked a real-life romance. “My Valentine. ♥️ Happy Valentine’s Day,” Durant wrote via Instagram in February 2023 when they debuted their relationship, sharing a selfie with the DWTS pro on a boardwalk. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to […]
Davis will try to become the second NBA player to win Dancing With the Stars, following Iman Shumpert and his win with Daniella Karagach in season 30. Rick Fox, Dwight Howard and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all finished top seven on their seasons as well.
‘There’s always added pressure because you want to do well, you want to be great, you want to win,” Davis admitted. “And so that’s just an athlete mentality. You just can’t stop thinking about trying to do everything in sync and make it perfect.”
Dancing With the Stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
Prove your DWTS fandom with Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv! Compete against other fans and Us editors in the Bracketology DWTS fantasy league this season to predict which pairs will make it to the finale for Season 34. Get access to exclusive content, stats and a chance to win prizes. Join the league for free today!
