Davis to replace Griffin on USA Olympic team

US college star Anthony Davis has been named to the Olympic men's basketball team, replacing Los Angeles Clippers centre Blake Griffin who is out with a knee injury. USA Basketball announced on Friday the addition of Davis, who was originally cut from the team and then asked to return after Griffin suffered an injury to his left knee during practice on Wednesday. "We are sorry to have received confirmation of Blake's injury which has forced his withdrawal from the USA team for this summer," said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo on Friday. "This is another unfortunate injury, but we have to continue to move on and we're very fortunate to have Anthony Davis." Griffin underwent an MRI on Thursday and was diagnosed with a torn meniscus which will require surgery to repair. The move adds another major injury setback to an American squad of NBA stars already hurt by injuries to Orlando centre Dwight Howard, Miami stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and Chicago's 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose. The USA, which is chasing its second consecutive Olympic gold medal, still has Miami's NBA finals MVP LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and his Oklahoma City teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden, and Chris Paul of the Clippers. But the loss of big men, Griffin, Bosh and Howard, leaves Tyson Chandler as the Americans only true centre. Davis, who was the first-overall pick of New Orleans in last month's NBA entry draft, has yet to play a game in the NBA. Davis scored nine points in a 113-59 exhibition win Thursday night over the Dominican Republic who failed to make the London Games. Paul has also been sitting out scrimmages since the first day of training camp with a sprained thumb. "Blake is a proven commodity and if we don't have him, it is a big loss," said US coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Clippers said Griffin would require arthroscopic surgery but should be ready for the start of the NBA season. Los Angeles recently signed Griffin to a five-year, $95 million contract extension. The Americans will spend the next three days training in Washington before playing an exhibition game against Brazil on Monday.