The Paris Summer Olympics are approaching, and while Team USA men’s basketball might still have some areas to fine-tune, one aspect they likely won’t need to worry about is having a dominant inside presence.
Anthony Davis, the standout center from the Los Angeles Lakers, demonstrated he might fill that role single-handedly with an impressive performance. He seized the spotlight by tallying 17 points and 14 rebounds in just 18 minutes during a 98-92 exhibition triumph over Australia on July 15 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
This victory marked Team USA’s second exhibition win against another strong contender for a medal in the past week, following their earlier success against Team Canada in Las Vegas.
“Anthony Davis underscored his crucial role for Team USA,” noted ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “His impact in the paint proved decisive with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and strong interior defense in just 18 minutes.”
Davis, who secured a 3-year, $175.37 million contract extension in August 2023, joins Lakers teammate LeBron James as part of the Team USA roster.
Team USA has three additional exhibition games lined up before the Olympics: they’ll face Serbia on July 17 in Abu Dhabi, South Sudan on July 20 in London, and Germany on July 22, also in London.
Anthony Davis, a former No. 1 overall draft pick by the New Orleans Hornets in 2012, boasts a decorated career. He led the University of Kentucky to an NCAA championship in his lone college season, where he also earned accolades such as Final Four Most Outstanding Player, National Player of the Year, and SEC Player of the Year.
Davis made his mark early in international competition, joining Team USA in 2012 before even playing his first NBA game. He was a key member of the undefeated squad that captured the gold medal at the London Olympics, sharing the court with stars like LeBron James and the late Kobe Bryant.
Over the past decade, Anthony Davis has emerged as one of the NBA’s most celebrated players, earning accolades such as 9-time NBA All-Star, 5-time All-NBA Team selection, and 6-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree. He also secured an NBA championship with the Lakers alongside LeBron James in 2020 and was honored with a spot on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
By the conclusion of his current contract after the 2026-27 season, Davis will have amassed career earnings totaling $485.1 million.
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