Team USA center Anthony Davis has been outstanding in the early stages of the Paris Olympics. Averaging 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 18 minutes per game, he’s arguably been their most steady two-way player. With that being said, while this tournament has plenty of significance for USA Basketball, Davis is unfazed by the pressure.
His first Olympic experience came over a decade ago.
Indeed, speaking of his Olympic debut, Davis tells Andscape’s Marc J. Spears: “I don’t think that I would be the player I am today without that experience.”
“Obviously, every guy has played (in the) Summer League, but I never played (in the) Summer League. That first year being around those guys… [Carmelo Anthony], Kobe [Bryant], [LeBron James], [Andre] Iguodala, James Harden, [Russell Westbrook], [Kevin Durant], Kevin Love, all those guys… Seeing their work ethic, their professionalism, how they approached the game.”
“Being able to see that and experience that kind of propelled (me) over other rookies, just being ready for the first game,” he explains.
“I was talking to (USA Basketball shooting coach) Chip Engelland… He remembered me playing in the (London) Olympics. And he never told me this (until recently) that when we first played (the San Antonio Spurs) he saw that I wasn’t afraid. I was comfortable. And the comfortability comes from the 2012 Olympics, that month and a half (or) two months. Being a part of that and then going against San Antonio and Tim Duncan, I wasn’t star struck. Being around superstars for two months kind of took that away.”
“I was able to come out and be comfortable,” Davis concludes.
Team USA’s Anthony Davis Opens Up About Pressure
Many will remember the hype that surrounded the Chicago native at that time. After a stellar one-and-done season at Kentucky’s NBA factory, Davis was the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Considered by some to be the best NBA prospect since LeBron James, he was expected to be the best player in the league one day.
For those who have followed his career from the beginning, this wasn’t too far-fetched. Davis was ahead of his time. A spry and spindly shot-blocker with three-level scoring potential, he looked like a mismatch nightmare. Furthermore, as Davis notes, he wasn’t intimidated by the moment or his matchups.
The proof was in the pudding. Even before he added weight and muscle, he was a force to be reckoned with. However, for all the hype, he didn’t win Rookie of the Year in 2013. That honor was bestowed upon mid-major star Damian Lillard instead.
Sustained Dominance
Davis was named an All-Star for the next eight straight years. Averaging at least 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game for seven of those seasons, he had the league’s highest block average in 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2017-18. Since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis’s career has been a bit of a roller coaster. Yet, in his time with L.A., he’s had more success than many players have had their entire career.
Now, he’s the most productive pivot in a center rotation that features a recent NBA MVP. He’s also a focal point of a marquee NBA franchise that has a rich history. Indeed, the Lakers have employed several Hall of Fame-caliber big men, from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal. In that vein, Davis is just carrying on tradition.
Whether this leads to another gold medal or NBA title remains to be seen. Nonetheless, if his teams are going to get there, they’re going to need the player who was once seen as a future NBA MVP.
