Anthony Davis expected to join Team USA
New Orleans Hornets’ rookie forward Anthony Davis is sidelined by a sprained ankle, but the top pick in the NBA draft is expected to join the USA Men’s National Team when workouts begin Thursday in Las Vegas.
Davis is one of 15 players, including Hornets guard Eric Gordon, who are competing for 12 spots on the team that will compete in the London Olympic Games next month. Davis is day-to-day because of the injury he suffered in workouts at the Hornets training facility last weekend.
If Davis isn’t able to compete before the roster is chosen Saturday, he could be named an alternate in hopes he will recover in time to help the team as it gets closer to London.
Team USA has already lost two big men to injury — Orlando center Dwight Howard and Miami forward Chris Bosh — and another — Clippers forward Lamar Odom — withdrew. The other big men expected in Las Vegas are New York center Tyson Chandler, a former Hornet, Minnesota forward Kevin Love and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin.
Davis said after being drafted last week that the experience of being around most of the top players in the NBA would be an important learning experience for him.
Hornets coach Monty Williams said he talked to Team USA assistant Nate McMillan, who is head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and Williams’ former boss.
“He said everybody who has played or gone through the process has come back a better player,” Williams said. “It’s the atmosphere and playing against the best players in the world.
“They come back with a different focus and a better work ethic. This will only benefit Anthony.”
Williams said he talked to Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski about how he planned to use Williams in the pick and roll and in certain defensive coverages so he could give Davis a head-start getting prepared.
Davis is 19 years old, so Williams said whatever happens this summer, Davis “should be high on their list for the next few (Olympics).”
Gordon, a restricted free agent who played in just nine games with New Orleans last season because of injury, is one of eight players on the roster who can play guard. The others are the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, the Thunder’s Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, the 76ers’ Andre Iguodala, the Clippers’ Chris Paul, another former Hornet, and the Nets’ Deron Williams.
The other players on the roster are Heat forward LeBron James, Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay.
The announcement of the 12-man roster will be televised live on NBA TV at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Hornets forward Lance Thomas is among the 15 players who comprise the USA Men’s Select Team that will train against the National Team for six days beginning Friday.