The burden of carrying Team USA to a FIBA World Cup victory this year has fallen on young New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis after Paul George broke his leg in gruesome fashion, and Kevin Durant withdrew late. Luckily for Team USA, the defensive terror is actually still growing.
According to reports, Davis said he might not be 6-feet-10 inches anymore, and KentuckySports.co is reporting he's gained two inches on his already considerable wingspan.
Paul George snaps leg in Team USA scrimmage
"I'm up to 238 right now. It's all muscle, and that's what I need," Davis told Pelicans radio broadcaster Sean Kelley. "I want to get stronger, so that when I post up, it's a lot easier for me. I think it's going to translate to the season, just my mentality, knowing that I'm a lot stronger and a lot better. It's going to make me more aggressive."
In the same interview Davis also joked about hoping he could remain under seven feet tall. "I hope not," Davis said when asked about getting taller. "I don't want to be 7 feet. It just (sounds) weird, to be a 7-footer. I'd like to be 6-10, but if I grow, you can't really do anything about it. You can't help it."
Kevin Durant drops out of FIBA World Cup due to "fatigue"
With all that said, a taller, stronger Anthony Davis may not be as frightening as a longer one. Unfortunately for his opponents his wingspan is also growing. A recent Instagram photo listed his wingspan at seven feet and seven and three-quarter inches, two inches longer than when he measured at the Combine.
Despite playing for an underwhelming Pelicans squad last season that missed the playoffs, Davis had a breakout campaign. In just his second season Davis put up 20.8 points and 10 rebounds a night on offense, and 2.8 blocks plus 1.3 steals a game on defense.
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