Baron Davis Opens Up About Joining Dancing With the Stars

Baron Davis, the former NBA star, is stepping into the spotlight of Dancing With the Stars for its 34th season, but not without some initial reservations. “I was a little hesitant,” Davis, 46, revealed in an exclusive interview. The thought of performing in front of a live audience and millions on television weighed heavily on his mind.

However, once he committed to the show, the two-time All-Star point guard shifted gears into preparation mode, setting aside his “anxiety and nervousness.” He likened this feeling to pre-game jitters, stating, “I get that as an athlete, before games, before practice, and that just means that, like, I’m readying myself for something.”

Having last played for the New York Knicks in 2012, Davis will be paired with professional dancer Britt Stewart. This marks Stewart’s sixth season on the show; she previously partnered with Eric Roberts in season 33, finishing in 10th place. Her best performance came in season 31 alongside her now-husband, Daniel Durant, where they secured a fifth-place finish.

The admiration is mutual. Stewart, 35, has experience working with athletes, having previously partnered with figure skater Johnny Weir and NFL running back Adrian Peterson. Her first impression of Davis was that he was “completely authentic.”

Davis aims to become the second NBA player to win the competition, following Iman Shumpert's victory in season 30. Other basketball legends like Rick Fox, Dwight Howard, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have also made their mark by finishing in the top seven during their respective seasons.

Dancing With the Stars premieres on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes available for streaming on Hulu the following day.

Fans can engage with Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv this season by participating in a fantasy league to predict which pairs will reach the finale for Season 34. Join for free today and access exclusive content and stats while competing for prizes!