Anthony Davis has the chance to have a national championship and Olympic gold medal on his resume before even stepping onto a NBA floor.
Now that’s what I call experienced.
In today’s basketball world where the best players are “students” for roughly two-thirds of their freshman year of college before focusing on their NBA dreams, experience is at a premium.
Davis may only have 1,281 minutes of college basketball under his belt, but imagine what he could learn traveling with the Olympic team. He would get a crash course on how to act like a pro from the best players in the world.
Imagine the advice he would be receiving from the super-duper stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Chris Paul to big men like Blake Griffin, Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love.
He can learn how to conduct himself with fans and media everywhere from the first three, and can learn how to play in the paint from All-Stars. It’s like the rich kid who gets the private lessons from the coach while the rest of the team hones their skills on the crooked hoop in the driveway.
It’s only a three-week commitment, but the memories he will gain from this experience will last a lifetime. He can essentially get a mega head-start on the entire rookie class over a month before NBA teams begin reporting for camp.
Unfair advantage? Sure, but the funny thing is, the U.S. needs Davis for the Olympics.
The roster lost Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge due to injury, and desperately needs a true big man who is capable of having a real impact on the defensive end of the floor. Considering Davis led the NCAA with 4.7 blocks per game, that shouldn’t be a problem.
We haven’t seen a talent like Davis in the collegiate ranks since Greg Oden. His game is ready for the Olympics. He can help out against Spain, who will be rolling out the Gasol brothers. The team needs big men and right now only Chandler (who has a history of injury issues) is a true center.
Davis gives them more depth at the position and while his lack of strength may hurt, he can make an impact.
Maybe most importantly...he wants to be there. This is the experience of a lifetime for a 19-year-old who is ready to just soak up the experience. The vets need a guy to haze, a guy to carry their bags. Davis would be happy to oblige.
It all makes sense and whichever team lands the No. 1 pick should be thrilled for Davis to play in the 2012 Olympics. His experience, along with his ability to make a major impact from the moment he steps onto a NBA court, is going to make him the steep favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award.
Fans in Charlotte, Washington, Sacramento and New Orleans should be crossing their fingers, not only for the right ping pong ball bounce, but for the Olympic team to pick Davis by the June 18 deadline so they can watch their newest star get the maturity lesson of a lifetime before he even steps onto an NBA floor.
This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Davis.
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