Team USA performances further establish Anthony Davis as Lakers franchise player

The Los Angeles Lakers have sent their superstars to represent Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics. It's one of the highlights of the summer thus far for a Lakers team that has been otherwise quiet between free agency and the trade market.

Thankfully for the Lakers, Anthony Davis is justifying the proverbial passing of the baton from LeBron James by thriving at the USA Basketball Showcase.

Davis recently spoke about how head coach JJ Redick intends to make him the, "Hub of the offense." The shift in strategy marks a highly-anticipated transition from playing through James to operating with Davis at the center of the game plan.

A 12-year veteran who has ample experience as a franchise player, it's fair to expect the five-time All-NBA honoree to thrive under those conditions.

In preparation for this shift in role and prominence, Davis has utilized the opportunity to play for Team USA as a stage to prove that he's up to the task. Despite coming off of the bench, he's been the best player on a star-studded roster.

The Americans have won each of their first two games at the USA Basketball Showcase, and it's hardly hyperbolic to say that Davis has been the primary reason why.

Anthony Davis is dominating with Team USA

In the opening game of the USA Basketball Showcase, the Americans defeated Canada 86-72. Davis anchored the defense during his 19 minutes of playing time, producing the second-best plus-minus on the team and creating a one-man wall that the Canadians simply couldn't penetrate.

Davis finished the game with 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, four blocks, and two steals, pulling down three offensive boards for good measure.

Davis led Team USA in rebounds, offensive boards, and blocks in the game, finishing second in steals and fourth in scoring. It was the type of performance that Lakers fans were hoping to see from a player who's now expected to lead the team back to the NBA Finals.

With a championship in 2020 and a second Western Conference Finals appearance in 2023 already under his belt, Davis has proven to be up to the task as a co-star.

The next time out, Davis offered Lakers fans a reminder of what he so often did with the New Orleans Pelicans as their clear-cut No. 1 player. He dominated Australia in Team USA's second game, posting 17 points, 14 rebounds, seven offensive boards, two blocks, and a steal in just 18 minutes.

Davis led Team USA in points, rebounds, offensive boards, and blocks, was second in steals, and took more field goal attempts than anyone on the court, as well.

Davis even knocked down a three-point shot along the way, which offers hope that his jump shot could be returning to form. In the event that it does, his skill set would be without a distinguishable flaw and the task of leading the offense would be made exponentially easier.

The only player who was named All-NBA and All-Defense in 2023-24, Davis is proving why the Lakers believe in him by doing for Team USA what he hopes to do for Los Angeles in 2024-25.