LAS VEGAS– Kevin Durant introduced himself to the world stage as a young, 21-year old NBA star in 2010 when he led the U.S. senior team to a gold medal in the World championships in Turkey.
Oklahoma City’s versatile 6-9 forward has been a focal point for Team USA ever since, becoming the leading scorer on the 2012 Olympic team in London and setting the tone for this team when he became the first person to commit to playing for his country the World Cup this fall in Spain.
“What can I say?” he said. “I grew up with USA basketball. I love playing for Coach K (national coach Mike Krzyuzewski). I’ll give it all for my country. I love my coaches, love my teammates, love my state and love my city. I love everything about the USA.’
It is a passion and loyalty rarely seen among NBA stars, many who have taken the summer off to rest after a long season, rehab nagging injuries or in the case of All Star center Kevin Love, who begged out to stay in the states and work his way through a possible trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
. Durant is rapidly becoming the second most popular player in the league, behind iconic LeBron James if you judge by his seven million followers on Twitter. He won the NBA scoring championship and tugged at the heart strings during his MVP acceptance speech when he offered an emotional tribute to his mother.
He is a pitch man for 10 different corporations and will be able to negotiate a huge shoe deal once his Nike contract expires at the end of this week and UnderArmor, which just paid a Team Takeover, a travel team from Maryland, $500,0000 to wear its gear– comes calling.
Durant is poised to become the face of USA basketball after LeBron James finally starts to slow down following the 2016 summer Olympics in London. He could solidify his position if he leads a U.S. depleted senior team to a gold medal.did
The U.S. has the pieces in place to make it happen, bonding quicker than expected.
We’re all about the same age, 25, and we’re just trying to get better and playing against each other only helps,” Durant said. “We’ve been playing a lot of one-on-one against each otehr all week. We’ve been doing that ever since we were 16. We like to score in one on one situations.”
Durant is the best player in the competition now that guard Tony Parker of France has dropped out. .
He averaged 32 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, leading the NBA in scoring for a fourth time and was named the league’s MVP. In January of the past season, Durant averaged 35.9 points per game while scoring 30 or more points in 12 straight games, including a career-high 54 points against Golden State. Warriors. Near the end of the season, Durant surpassed Michael Jordan’s record for most consecutive games scoring at least 25 points with 41.
U.S. senior national team coach Mike Krzyzewski, in attempt to maximize his team’s versatility, has changed Durant role, moving him to power forward this week. “It’s different,” Durant said. “Screening a lot, rolling to the rim, banging down low, but also space for jumpers. I’m looking forward to donig whatever it takes.”
There is already speculation Krzyzewski might pair Durant with 6-10 center and rising star Anthony Davis is a front court that will .likely also include forward Paul George. But winning the gold is hardly a lock. Spain, the host team and the U.S.’ strongest competition, is huge up front with the Gasol borthers and Serge ibaka and could create problems if they use their inside power game to send either Durant or Davis to the bench with foul problems.
But that seems like a long shot ,given the way European teams traditionally spread the court to create space for threes.
Durant’s only problem this week has been maintaining his focus. He has been the subject of LeBron -ized rumors after Durant, who will be a free agent in 2016, applauded James’ decision to leave Miami after winning two titles in four years at South Beach and return home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Durant told USA Today “It was classy. It’s fun to see a guy think about more than just basketball for once, and himself … He thought about the city where he comes from, northeast Ohio and how he could affect so many kids bigger than basketball. I love that.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Twitter universe exploded and Washington fans began lobbying for Durant to display the same type of loyalty he has to Team USA. and to return to his home state Maryland, where he played the bulk of his high school career, and play for the Wizards. He has routinely returned home to play in the D.C. Pro-Am league and recently flew in to attend a family reunion.
The buzz has become so great, Durant, who has over seven million followers, had to turn off his Twitter account on his I-phone to minimize distractions as he attempts to maintain his focus. “I’m going to do what is best for me,” Durant said. “It’s hard to talk about that right now. I have two years left with Oklahoma City. I’m just focusing on that. I’m not going to make a decision based on what somebody else does.”
Winning a title in Oklahoma City, however, could have an opposite impact on Durant.
“Two years straight titles, that would be cool,” he said. “It would definitely be tough to do anything. It’s one of those things where you’re building a dynasty now winning two in a row. But I’m not focused on down the line. I’m focused on today. I love my teammates and my coaches. I love Oklahoma City.”
Durant is huge in Oklahoma City, but the Thunder, as current constituted, are not good enough to win an NBA title in the next two years and their owner Clay Bennett is not included to spend big money on free agency. When Durant becomes a free agent, guard Russell Westbrook and forward Serge Ibaka will still be under guaranteed contracts. But the Wizards could have a greater upside if they can keep guards John Wall and Brad Beal and center Marcin Gortat and come up with enough money for Durant..
