5 Team USA Basketball Players with the Most to Prove at 2012 Olympics

With Team USA positioned as favorites as they embark on their quest for Olympic gold in London, there are very few questions remaining.

The team seemingly has a set rotation and won all five of its exhibition games. Regardless, there are some individual players with a ton to prove in these Olympics.

Some are veteran guys who need to step into new roles, while others are first-time Olympians just trying to fit in.

Who are the five members of Team USA with something to prove in London? Follow along as we take a look.

Anthony Davis

The Brow owes his Team USA roster spot to Blake Griffin's torn meniscus, but that doesn't matter as the squad heads to London.

For the 19-year-old Davis, it's all about proving why he was chosen.

The No. 1 pick in June's NBA draft will likely slot behind Tyson Chandler in the American depth chart, with his defensive prowess being used as a secret weapon coming off the bench.

But historically speaking, Team USA shouldn't expect much fearing of the brow to happen in the summer games. Players this young are often overwhelmed by the level of competition and the pressure of playing for their home country.

If the coaching staff is smart, Davis' minutes will stay low and won't come in high-pressure situations.

Russell Westbrook

Westbrook's biggest goal should be to avoid disrupting team chemistry. His head-down, reckless driving and relentless motor work stylistically for the NBA, but Westbrook is probably the worst international fit on the team.

He'll play most of his minutes in London at the shooting guard spot, which was his natural position until he came to the NBA. But Westbrook's outside shot still doesn't have consistency and his breakdowns won't work against zone defenses.

If Russ can settle for simply being a staunch defender, then he can contribute to the gold cause. But if not, he might play the fewest minutes of any American Olympian.

Tyson Chandler

The American squad's unquestioned largest weakness comes in the middle. 

That's an indictment on Chandler, who was the 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year but whose presence can be mostly credited to injuries to Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum.

If Chandler can come out and provide Team USA with the same type of defensive presence he gave the Knicks this past season and the Americans in 2010's FIBA World Championship, then Team USA could cruise to gold.

But if Chandler struggles, coach Mike Krzyzewski could be forced to leave the center on the pine and put all of Team USA's eggs in the small ball basket. 

Kevin Durant

Durant's brilliance in the exhibition season has already earned the Thunder star a starting gig and a distinction as the second best player on Team USA's roster.

The key will be keeping that level of play up and keeping incumbent starter Carmelo Anthony out of the lineup.

That should be no problem as KD is perhaps the best suited international player on the United States' roster. His three-point prowess makes the international three look like a joke, causing defenders to press against him. But Durant is also quick enough to blow past the often weaker foreign defenses.

As the tournament progresses, KD could become Team USA's most reliable offensive weapon. 

LeBron James

Much like during the NBA playoffs, this is LeBron's chance to prove he can be the alpha dog on a championship contender. Only this time it's with the entire world watching.

His brilliance in the postseason proved to even the most staunch LeBron detractor that he's the best player in the world by a pretty significant margin. Team USA's best chance for gold lies in LeBron's hands.

If James is the unquestioned leader of a gold medal team in the same year he won a regular season MVP, an NBA championship and NBA Finals MVP, it could go down as one of the best individual years in basketball history.

But if LeBron reverts to a secondary role on Team USA, it could open up James' impenetrable wall of greatness for levels of criticism.