LONDON (AP) — Divided by 20 years and linked by the Olympic rings, U.S. center Anthony Davis and former Dream Team member Christian Laettner met this week for the first time.
Stars in college, the two players share a common bond: end-of-the-bench reserves on talent-rich American teams loaded with NBA superstars.
But unlike Laettner, who spent most of his time at the 1992 Barcelona Games watching teammates Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley win a gold medal without much trouble, Davis may have a larger role with this year’s undersized U.S. team.
The 6-foot-10 Davis is an excellent shot blocker for the Americans, who face Nigeria Thursday. As the U.S. advances in the tournament, LeBron James says “I’m glad we got him, because we’re going to need him.”
