Clippers’ Glen Davis is a big source of energy

Steve Ballmer knew he was getting a championship coach and two of the NBA’s top players when he plunked down a record $2 billion for the Clippers last summer.

He probably didn’t realize he was getting his own department of energy.

Glen Davis can electrify Staples Center by opening his mouth, flexing his arms, rolling his head, just about any movement of his ample 6-foot-9, 290-pound frame.

“My job is energy,” Davis said. “Bring it.”

The reserve forward has brought it on several memorable occasions this season, with his teammates hoping another would be in store Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. The game ended too late for this edition.

“His energy, I stay on him all the time because it’s contagious,” Clippers point guard Chris Paul said this week. “When he brings that, he brings a different element to our team.”

The Clippers saw the impact Davis can make Thursday during a victory over the San Antonio Spurs, when his 10 points and six rebounds were less noteworthy than his antics that had the crowd roaring.

Davis made a layup while being fouled, prompting him to flex his arms and playfully roll his head. He later threw the ball off Patty Mills’ foot out of bounds to save a possession for the Clippers and rose at precisely the right moment to swat a shot by Tiago Splitter.

Each of Davis’ highlights prompted the player known as “Big Baby” to howl in delight, invigorating his teammates and Clippers fans who showered him with a standing ovation when he left the game.

“You guys see Baby out there?” Clippers shooting guard Jamal Crawford asked reporters after the game. “Baby probably had you guys standing up. He’s so emotional and he gets everybody charged up.”

Being energetic has a couple of prerequisites, according to Davis.

“First of all, you have to get your rest,” he said. “Get you a little caffeine in you and make sure that you have the juice in you before you go in. There’s a little juice, I think, that helps me get through the game and bring that fire.”

Of course, bringing that fire consistently can be difficult for someone who plays sporadically. Davis plays 10 minutes some nights and only five others, depending on matchups and the flow of the game.

Conducting energy is always harder when the current is not allowed to flow.

“When you’re so riled up and you don’t play five minutes, you’re still trying to bring that energy,” Davis said. “It’s a battle between yourself and that’s where it comes in, giving yourself up for the team too. When I get in there for five minutes, I’m going to be like crazy.”

Davis’ statistics are modest — he was averaging 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game before Saturday — but his impact is not when he’s riling people up as only he can.

Paul said the Big Baby nickname was perfect for Davis because “he shows his emotions, good or bad, at all times.” And when things are going well, Davis breaks out into a little dance, something he exhibited against the Spurs.

“That’s the Big Baby jig,” Davis said. “Whenever I’m doing that, watch out.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch

Times staff writer Melissa Rohlin contributed to this report.