Griffin leaves Team USA after suffering knee injury in practice

Griffin leaves Team USA after suffering knee injury in practice

By Sam Amick, SI.com
7/12/2012
Team USA's big-man problem just got bigger.
Clippers power forward Blake Griffin suffered a left-knee injury during practice in Las Vegas on Wednesday and was scheduled to return to Los Angeles on Thursday for an examination. Hornets power forward and Team USA alternate Anthony Davis has been summoned to replace Griffin, who signed a five-year extension worth up to $95 million with the Clippers on Tuesday.
It's the same knee that Griffin injured during the playoffs last season and caused him to miss the entire 2009-2010 season. While it's not known how serious Griffin's injury is, the source said the severity was "not good." Griffin woke up with swelling on Thursday morning before deciding to head to Los Angeles.
Team USA was already dealing with a lack of depth in its frontcourt, with Griffin, Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love and Knicks center Tyson Chandler seen as the primary rebounders.
Davis, the No. 1 pick in last month's draft, is expected to suit up for Team USA's exhibition against the Dominican Republic on Thursday at UNLV. He's been a
member of the U.S. select team but hasn't been participating in contract drills during the Americans' weeklong camp because of an ankle injury that he sustained on June 30.
"It's getting there," Davis said of his ankle on Sunday in Las Vegas. "[It's] about 75 percent right now, 75 to 80 percent. I'm getting there. I just want to come out here and try to make this team. It means a lot to represent your country. ... Playing with these pro guys is a great opportunity for me.
"I'm doing no contact still, trying to get healthy. I'm trying to aim for Tuesday, Wednesday, to get out here and start playing."
Griffin is merely the latest Team USA candidate to go down. That list includes Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (knee), Magic center Dwight Howard (back), Clippers point guard Chauncey Billups (Achilles), Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (hip), Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (knee) and Heat power forward Chris Bosh (abdominal strain).
Lakers center Andrew Bynum -- who would have been a natural fit to replace Howard -- passed on the opportunity to join Team USA because he plans to underdog the same knee procedure that teammate Kobe Bryant had last offseason.