On Wednesday, the Team USA men’s Olympic basketball team dodged a potential scare with star player Anthony Davis. The Los Angeles Lakers center, who has been alternating between starting and coming off the bench, took a hard fall during a game against Team South Sudan. It appeared he might have twisted his ankle, but thankfully, he confirmed that it’s “100 percent” ahead of their next game.
In a report from Ben Golliver at The Washington Post, Davis explained that he was stepped on by friend and former teammate Wenyen Gabriel as they both fell. “Wenyen being Wenyen. He’s my guy,” Davis said fondly.
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So far in the tournament, Davis is averaging 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal per game. As a nine-time All-Star and seasoned veteran, he aims to add a second Olympic gold medal to his impressive resume, having won his first in 2012. The only other players from that team still with him are LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Davis made his first start on Wednesday, contributing to Team USA’s 103-86 win over South Sudan, and helping them maintain their perfect record at 7-0, counting both exhibition and group play matches. They will be heavily favored against Team Puerto Rico in their next matchup.
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Losing Davis would have greatly impacted Team USA, particularly on defense. Bam Adebayo, who stepped up to score for the team, can fill in but Davis’s presence is vital. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid, the MVP center for the Philadelphia 76ers, was held out of the previous game for strategic reasons but is expected to start on Saturday.