Ed Davis confirms he wants back next year

In a conversation before Wednesday’s game vs. Charlotte, Ed Davis told Brian Lewis that he wants to return to Brooklyn next season. And his teammates confirm they want him back.

“Honestly, I think about free agency,” Davis said. “But I try to live in the moment, enjoy the season, take it one game at a time, enjoying Brooklyn, enjoying New York, instead of thinking about next year, 10 years down the line, retirement, things like that.

“Obviously I want to be back. I said that so hopefully it works out in the summer. But my main focus is just try to help this team and make the playoffs. Good things happen when you win and you make the playoffs — that’s just my mindset. And if we do that, everything works out.”

Davis earns $4.4 million —the room exception— this season and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. The 29-year-old is currently enjoying one of, if not his most productive season. He’s second in the NBA in rebounding percentage —the percentage of rebounds a player grabs while on the floor — and first in offensive rebounding.

He admits he’s been surprised by the team’s success thus far this season.

“Honestly, no. I didn’t think it was going to pan out like this,” Davis said. “Obviously I’m happy that I am here, but I can’t lie to you. July 1 I didn’t think we were going to be one game out of the eighth spot and play a team two games in a row that we can definitely move up in the standings on. I couldn’t predict that.”

Davis’ teammates believe he’s a big part of that surprise.

Spencer Dinwiddie on Ed Davis: “He’s a real dude, man.” Joe Harris added of Davis “He’s about the right stuff.” And his coach, Kenny Atkinson, credited Davis, Jared Dudley and DeMarre Carroll for keeping the team together after Caris LeVert went down.

“They’ve seen so much. They didn’t even blink,” said the coach.

• How Nets and overlooked leader Ed Davis surprised each other - Brian Lewis - New York Post