Team USA basketball seems sufficiently stocked to make a run at an Olympic gold medal this summer after it failed to even win a bronze medal in last summer’s FIBA World Cup. It didn’t exactly have its best roster last summer, but now, it has a star-studded one that some feel rivals the 2008 “Redeem Team” or even the 1992 Dream Team.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are two big reasons the United States should have a great chance at bringing home the gold just weeks from now. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar duo has looked excellent in two exhibition games so far, and the squad as a whole seems to be inching toward being ready for real competition.
In Monday’s win over Australia, Davis had 17 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots, leading Team USA in all three categories. He looked a lot like the Davis that has often been dominant for the Lakers, especially this past season when he put together arguably the best season of his life.
As of now, Davis is coming off the bench for head coach Steve Kerr. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers is the team’s starter at the 5, but his numbers — 10 points and five rebounds — paled in comparison to Davis’ production.
There is a feeling among fans that Davis should be starting instead of Embiid. There is an argument to be made against making that move, as Davis is 31 years of age and is starting to pile up the mileage. In past years, he has been notoriously injury-prone.
But Embiid is barely younger (he’s 30 years of age) and has a history of knee problems. Perhaps he’s the one who needs to exercise load management more than Davis does.
If Davis does get the starting job once Team USA begins official Olympic competition on July 28, it could perhaps help him get into fantastic shape for the upcoming NBA season. That could perhaps lead to him having another amazing season for a Lakers team that is looking for some way to return to championship contention.
Winning the gold won’t be easy for the United States, and it isn’t exactly a given it will emerge victorious in Paris. Perhaps that is the biggest reason Davis should be moved into the starting lineup, as the rest of the world has definitely caught up to Team USA.