Anthony Davis, Brow Across America

In its past two iterations, Team USA was one built to emphasize speed and athleticism rather than size. Rare was the true center, save for the likes of Tyson Chandler and Dwight Howard, and in their place, playing nonetheless a crucial role, were players such as Chris Bosh and Kevin Love, whom coach Krzyzewski would deploy as nominal fives. The United States took a different approach this year. There’s still copious amounts of speed, but there’s also bountiful size, from Kenneth Faried to DeMarcus Cousins to Andre Drummond to Mason Plumlee.

Then there’s Anthony Davis. He has size, to be sure. He’s anywhere from 6’10 to 7’5, depending on who’s measuring and if he’s had yet another growth spurt. Yet it’s not as if he has the frame of the aforementioned bigs — he’s corded with muscle (and can still support more) rather packed with it. He doesn’t have the girth to throw around like Cousins or Drummond, but he’s not of their ilk. He’s not of anyone’s ilk, really. His combination of length, speed, coordination, defensive instinct and fast-blossoming offense is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. And, unfortunately for the opponents of Team USA, he’s unlike anything they’ve ever seen. It seems as if every time there’s an international tournament, be it the FIBA World Cup or the Olympics, one USA player emerges as the face of the team, his international play foreshadowing the destruction he’ll rain upon the rest of the NBA come the regular season. This year, it’s Anthony Davis.

Text by Jordan White, illustration by Jesse Blanchard