LILLE, France – What a difference 12 years has made for USA Basketball forward Anthony Davis.

The No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft was the last guy on the bench on the 2012 London Olympics team. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers star is a key player for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“I was a towel waver coming fresh out of college [in 2012],” Davis told Andscape. “To be an integral part of it now and actually getting minutes, I have a different type of appreciation.”

Team USA went undefeated en route to winning the gold medal in 2012. The Americans’ illustrious roster included the late Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, among others. Prior to the Olympics, Davis was the No. 1 pick of the 2012 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. The 6-foot-10 big man played in seven of the eight Olympic games in 2012, averaging team-lows of 3.7 points, 2.4 field goal attempts and 7.6 minutes per game.

While Davis didn’t play much at age 19, he “enjoyed the entire process,” getting a masterclass being among the likes of Bryant and James before going into his rookie season with the Pelicans. Davis averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game as a rookie during the 2012-13 season with New Orleans.

“I don’t think that I would be the player I am today without that experience,” Davis said. “Obviously, every guy has played summer league. But I never played summer league. That first year being around those guys I was around, Melo [Anthony], Kobe, Bron, [Andre] Iguodala, James Harden, Russ [Westbrook], KD [Durant], Kevin Love, all those guys… Seeing their work ethic, their professionalism, how they approached the game.

“Being able to see that and experience that kind of propelled [me] over other rookies, just being ready for the first game. I was talking to Chip Engelland [one of USA Basketball’s shooting coaches]. And he was in San Antonio [coaching] in ’12. He remembered me playing in the Olympics. And he never told me this [until recently] that when we first played [the Spurs] he saw that I wasn’t afraid. I was comfortable. And the comfortability comes from the 2012 Olympics, that month and a half, two months. Being a part of that and then going against San Antonio and Tim Duncan, I wasn’t star struck. Being around superstars for two months kind of took that away. I was able to come out and be comfortable.”

Fast forward to 2024, Davis is now an NBA champion, a nine-time NBA All-Star and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Also in 2024, he re-joined USA Basketball’s national team to return to the Olympics. The 2014 FIBA World Cup gold medalist cited injuries as major reasons why he missed the Olympics in 2016 and 2020.

Davis averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in 17.8 minutes per game in wins over Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico. USA completed the preliminary stage 3-0 and faces Brazil in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night in Paris.

“We had three games to kind of just clean everything up,” Davis said after defeating Puerto Rico 104-83 on Saturday. “And now, it’s go time. We play Brazil. We have to get prepared for them. And we have to play mistake-free basketball and also be as perfect as possible knowing that these teams are also playing for gold and trying to compete.

“Every time that we step on the floor it’s somebody’s Game 7 of the [NBA] Finals. We have that mentality to come out and dominate.”

Whether starting or as a reserve, Davis is expected to have a major role in America’s quest to win a gold medal due to his two-way play, versatility, athleticism and a skillset that seems to fit well in international basketball.

“I’m an adjustable player, man,” Davis said. “I can play with anyone. I can play alongside anyone, start, come off the bench, whatever. I just love to win […] and do whatever I got to do.

“When you have an unselfish mindset like I do where I don’t have to score — I’m a two-way player, so I don’t have to score every time down the floor or try to score the basketball. I can let these guys do what they do best, and I can defer to the defensive end and block shots.”

Another major change for Davis since 2012 is he is married with three children now.

Anthony and Marlen Davis were married in 2020 after a long-term relationship. They have a six-year-old daughter, Nala, and two young boys. While the Davis boys are too young to understand the Olympics, Nala certainly does and has truly been enjoying Paris and what it has to offer in tourism and pastries off the court.

“My second child, he doesn’t really understand,’ Davis said. “But he understands being at the Games, being in the crowd and daddy playing basketball. But my daughter, who is about to be seven in November, truly understands it. I pick her up at school and her friends, her classmates and teachers and everybody knows Anthony Davis.

“She kind of gets it. But to her I’m dad. But she is more excited to be in Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. She could care less about what is happening on the court. That part, she could care less about us trying to win a gold medal. But she’s excited. She loves to travel. Obviously, she has had a luxury to be at a lot of places. And so, she is excited to be here to see the Eiffel Tower and to eat croissants. I have to get to world’s biggest croissant for her.”

At 31 years old, could this be Davis’ last Olympics?

The 2028 Olympics will be in Los Angeles, which certainly would be convenient if he was still a Laker. While time will tell, he is currently focused on representing Team USA again after being selected by USA Basketball executive director and former NBA star and Olympian Grant Hill.

“It’s an honor to play for your country,” Davis said. “Obviously, G-Hill told us that. He didn’t get a chance to play again after ’96. You don’t get too many opportunities. You obviously don’t want to take it for granted. I’m lucky to have played in two now and a world championship.

“It’s humbling. It’s a great feeling. And it’s only 12 guys. If you haven’t noticed, you kind of keep those same guys in rotation. So, to be in that pool, it’s an honor.”

Davis has had his share of injury woes in his career, but he played in 76 regular-season games for the Lakers last season. He believes that playing in the Olympics will give him a head start in preparing for the next NBA season.

“I stay in the moment,” said Davis, who acknowledged that he hasn’t seen his safety deposited 2012 gold medal in years. “I can’t try to pace myself to prepare for the [NBA] season. If anything, this will get me in more shape and ready for the season. Obviously, we’re going to manage during training camp and preseason and maybe the first couple games of the season. But I try to stay in the present and focused on winning the gold right now.”