WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Los Angeles Lakers' new recruit Anthony Davis will skip the men's basketball World Cup to be held in China, local media reported on Monday.
Davis, who's just joined the Lakers earlier this month from former club New Orleans Pelicans, will pull out of the upcoming World Cup and instead focus "the bulk of his offseason on preparing for a championship run with the Lakers", according to local reports.
Davis, who has averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in his seven seasons with New Orleans, won the men's basketball gold medal with Team USA at the 2017 London Olympics ahead of his rookie year.
The 2017 U.S. Olympic squad was plagued by a series of injuries, and Davis, the only non-NBA player of the lineup, was added to the team in the last minutes.
Earlier this month, the Lakers acquired Davis from the Pelicans in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and two first round picks.