Anthony Davis poses with his jersey as he is introduced as the newest player of the Los Angeles Lakers during a press conference in El Segundo, California, U.S., July 13, 2019. /VCG Photo
The Los Angeles Lakers' latest entrant Anthony Davis is likely to give the upcoming Men's Basketball World Cup a miss.
If the grapevine is to be believed, the NBA star, who has joined the Lakers earlier this month from his former club New Orleans Pelicans, is going to skip the big ticket international tournament, to be held in China, as he is likely to prepare for a championship run with his new team.
According to local news reports, instead of taking the bus to China, Davis will focus "the bulk of his off-season on preparing for a championship run with the Lakers."
When Team U.S.A. had named its 20-man training camp roster for the 2019 World Cup last month, the 26-year-old made the cut to the list. However, according to a U.S. media report, the power forward is all set to withdraw his name from consideration for his country's World Cup roster.
The report also suggested that Davis, who has averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in his seven seasons with New Orleans and had won the men's basketball gold medal with Team U.S.A. at the 2012 London Olympics ahead of his rookie year, will also skip the training camp with Team U.S.A.
His agent, Rich Paul, confirmed his client's decision to a media network close on the heels of the Lakers officially introducing Davis as a member of their franchise.
"When it was announced that I was being traded, I wouldn't say it was a sigh of relief, it was just something that I thought about for a long time," Davis said at that time.
"Obviously, it was tough for me to leave a city I've been playing for for seven years, but when I found out I was getting traded to the Lakers, I realized it was an unbelievable opportunity for me to be here."
Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans posts up on Salah Mejri #50 of the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Texas, March 18, 2019. /VCG Photo
He has also reportedly set his eyes on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as he is gunning for a spot in the team for the showpiece quadrennial event.
In 2012 in London, Davis became the first American player since Emeka Okafor (in 2004) to have participated in the Olympics without any prior NBA experience.
The Olympic gold medalist, who also won the 2014 World Cup with Team U.S.A., however, is likely to attend his side's training camp next month to support his teammates.
Interestingly, the 2012 U.S. Olympic squad was plagued by a series of injuries, and Davis became the only non-NBA player of the lineup after he was added to the team in the eleventh hour.
Meanwhile, it's not clear if U.S.A. Basketball has a 20th player lined up to replace AD. Earlier this month, the embattled Lakers drafted Davis from the Pelicans in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and two first round picks.
Known for being a power forward and center, who can run the floor and dominate on both ends, Davis, with his imminent withdrawal from the squad, has surely made it a tough ask for Team U.S.A. to find a suitable replacement as an impact player.