Coming off an injury is never easy, especially considering the context of the Paris Olympics’ lead-up. Team USA needed to assert itself as the greatest basketball nation once again after falling short of the FIBA World Cup in 2023. So, this first match against Nikola Jokic’s Serbia was definitely integral in setting the tone of their campaign. A lot expected LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, and Stephen Curry to take over for the Steve Kerr-led squad. However, it was Kevin Durant who blazed up.
Kevin Durant went 8-for-9 on the field for 23 points against a Serbian defense that looked confused in just 17 minutes of playing time. His confidence and ability to find the proper space for his shots were just different. It was not just the crowd and Nikola Jokic who was left amused by the Team USA superstar’s performance. His teammates were also left with their jaws dropped, via Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
"I've obviously coached Kevin for three years [with Golden State] and, maybe more than any player I've ever been around when he comes back from a long absence, you don't notice it. He is so skilled and he just looked like he was in midseason form after not playing in a real basketball game for a couple of months. Pretty incredible,” Steve Kerr said about Durant.
The Slim Reaper is the all-time leading scorer in Team USA history. Clearly, international tournaments like the Paris Olympics and FIBA events are where he thrives. Not even a calf injury that he sustained late in the Phoenix Suns’ run could stop him.
While they have been heated rivals on the court for a long time, LeBron James noted how great Durant was in picking apart Serbia’s defense. The NBA’s all-time scoring king outlined that all of this was expected because of how hard the Slim Reaper exerts himself in practice.
"I think he even goes even harder in practice. So when the game starts, it's just routine for him,” the Los Angeles Lakers legend proclaimed.
A South Sudan squad that nearly beat them in exhibitions is the next hurdle to their gold medal quest. Will they be able to widen the gap this time around?
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