Baron Davis said he would like to try surfing in Hawai'i's famous waves this week.

Based on his ability to do just about everything on the basketball court, Davis should have no problem in the surf.

"I have a house in Malibu (Calif.), so I've tried surfing before," he said. "I can't say I'm a good surfer, but I try. If I get some time here, I'd love to go out."

But Davis' primary focus in Hawai'i is with the Golden State Warriors, who have been training at the Brigham Young-Hawai'i campus since last Tuesday.

He will put his all-around skills on display this week when the Warriors play Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in preseason games tomorrow and Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I think we're on pace to do something great," Davis said. "We have the talent and we're starting to get the right players in here to fit the system. Last year was just a start. We need to continue to work hard and grow together to keep it going this year."

Led by Davis, the Warriors were the talk of the NBA playoffs last season when they upset top-seeded Dallas in the first round. It was also the first time since 1994 that Golden State qualified for the playoffs.

Davis, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound point guard, averaged 25.3 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 steals in 11 playoff games last season (the Warriors were eliminated in the second round by Utah).

Davis, who is entering his ninth season in the NBA and fourth with the Warriors, has emerged as one of the top guards in the league. Last season, he averaged 20.1 points and 8.1 assists per game, and led the NBA with 2.1 steals per game.

Davis said his rise to stardom and the Warriors' run to the playoffs has coincided with the arrival of head coach Don Nelson.

"He's given me complete confidence and held me accountable for each and everything I've done as far as my play on the court," Davis said. "It's the first time that I really had a coach that has coached me in and out of the game, and helped me to become a better player and a better leader."

Nelson, who was named head coach of the Warriors prior to last season, is second on the NBA's all-time list of coaching victories with 1,232.

Nelson said the respect is mutual, and he already knows who his unquestioned leader on the court will be this season.

"He's my captain and my leader," Nelson said of Davis. "And my leadership has been great."

During Davis' first three seasons at Golden State, his backcourt teammate was the dynamic Jason Richardson. But Richardson was traded in June, and the Warriors are searching during this training camp for a starting guard to complement Davis.

"You can't be concerned about the moves the team makes," Davis said. "We have a lot of good young talent and we just have to continue to mold it. Part of it will be my duty to help mold that young talent."

Due in part to a knee injury, Davis was not on the list of candidates for the team that represented the USA at the FIBA Americas Championship tournament last month.

However, Davis said it is one of his dreams to be selected for a dream team that will participate in the 2008 Olympics in China.

"That's a goal of mine to at least be invited and be given a chance to prove myself," he said. "And to have an opportunity to play with great talent like that and represent my country would be a great honor."

The best way to audition for an Olympic invitation may be for Davis to lead the Warriors to more success this season.

It starts tomorrow, although Nelson said Davis may not be on the court for long.

"We're not going to overplay him in the preseason, for sure," Nelson said. "He'll probably play less than anybody on the team. I don't want him to get hurt. As long as his rhythm is good, that's all I care about."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.