Although some felt they shouldn’t have done so because it may be risky for their health, LeBron James and Anthony Davis committed to playing for Team USA this summer in order to help it regain the gold medal in international competition.
It failed to win even a bronze medal in last summer’s FIBA World Cup, but now, it has an extremely strong roster with the Summer Olympics approaching. Even with Kevin Durant out because of a calf strain, many expect the United States to claim the gold medal in Paris.
In three exhibition games so far, it is 3-0, and Davis has stood out, especially defensively and on the boards. On Monday, he had 17 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots, and in Wednesday’s win over Nikola Jokić and Serbia, he blocked six shots and grabbed six boards.
Some people still doubt that Davis is a force to be reckoned with. But James reminded everyone how special the Los Angeles Lakers superstar big man is when he was asked to assess Davis’ impact on Team USA.
LeBron James on Anthony Davis' impact through Team USA's first three games: "I see it everyday. He's been my teammate for the last six years, so I've seen it every single day. He's just one of these talents that there's not many of them, so it's always a treat to be on the same… pic.twitter.com/U3tg29gJsi
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) July 17, 2024
The Americans have two more exhibition contests coming up against South Sudan and Germany. It will then begin its official Olympic competition on July 28 versus Serbia.
