The Group USA males’s Olympic basketball workforce prevented what might have been a terrifying ailment to a significant participant on Wednesday.
All-Star Los Angeles Lakers middle Anthony Davis, who has vacillated between a beginning and reserve function in Group USA’s two video games to this point, revealed that he survived an on-court tumble with Group South Sudan middle/energy ahead Wenyen Gabriel, regardless of what regarded like a tweaked ankle.
In line with Ben Golliver of The Washington Post, the 6-foot-10 massive man indicated that his ankle was “one hundred pc” heading into the membership’s third and ultimate group play sport, slated for Saturday morning towards Group Puerto Rico at 8:15 a.m. PT/11:15 a.m. ET.
“Wenyen being Wenyen. He is my man,” Davis stated concerning Gabriel, who performed with Davis in Los Angeles throughout the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. “I used to be falling and he got here down too and simply sort of stepped on my foot.”
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Throughout Group USA’s two video games to this point, Davis is logging averages of seven.5 factors, 7.5 boards, two dimes, and a steal. The nine-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA honoree, and five-time All-Defensive Teamer is seeking to additional burnish his Corridor of Fame resume with what could be his second Olympic gold medal. Davis claimed his first in 2012. From that 2012 workforce, solely three gamers are on the 2024 iteration: Davis, his fellow All-NBA Laker LeBron James, and All-NBA Phoenix Suns ahead Kevin Durant.
Davis was additionally the second-best participant on the Lakers’ 2020 title workforce. The 31-year-old’s particular person accolades mixed along with his relative postseason success ought to already be sufficient to cement his legacy in Springfield.
The Kentucky product drew his first begin on Wednesday, serving to lead Group USA to a 103-86 victory over Gabriel and South Sudan. The membership is now 7-0, between its unblemished 5 exhibition video games and its two group play contests, and is closely favored to defeat Group Puerto Rico on Saturday.
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Shedding Davis would show expensive for Group USA, which might particularly miss his submit presence defensively. Miami Warmth middle Bam Adebayo led the membership in scoring on Wednesday whereas backing up Davis.
Philadelphia 76ers MVP middle Joel Embiid did not play a single second, a far cry from his earlier function as beginning middle. Head coach Steve Kerr has indicated that Embiid was benched for matchup causes, and goes to begin on Saturday. Had Davis missed time, Adebayo would have been leaned upon much more to shore up this system’s frontcourt protection.
