LAS VEGAS– Team USA opened its three day mini-camp here Tuesday at the Cox Center on the campus of UNLV. Technically, the light, non-contact workouts are meant to satisfy a mandatory attendance rule for candidates who want to be eligible for the senior men’s team that will participate in the 2016 Olympic Summer games in Rio.
But Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, the leading scorer on the 2012 Olympic gold medalists in London, looks like he was just happy to be back on the court.
Durant played only 27 games last season because of a fractured foot. The NBA’s 2014 MVP, he was diagnosed with a Jones fracture in October and was ultimately forced to undergo three surgeries last season.
“I feel like I can go 100 percent,” he said. “I’ve got to play against the guys to really see, but I feel like I’m back to myself. I haven’t played since February, so of course, I’m human. I’d been through a little bit of rust. I haven’t played five on five yet. I’ve been working out with (former NBA coach) Monte Williams. He’s old but he pounds me a little bit. He’s definitely making me better.
“So many people are trying me. I walk down the street, Everybody wants to play me one on one now. I guess they haven’t seen me in a while. It is what it is. That competitive juice is flowing through my body and I’m just ready to play. I’m excited I’m playing with the USA team.
“Iron sharpens iron. I’d be a fool if I didn’t want to get with any of these guys. If I wanted to keep my workouts secret or be by myself, I’d be stupid to do that. To bounce ideas off Chris Paul, LaMarcus Aldridge, Draymond Green, Steph Curry. It’s like being in basketball heaven. So I’m excited.”
Durant is just happy to be playing again. This has been a long, painful journey back for him. The initial recovery time was estimated to be four to six months, which would put him on track to play opening night if all heals well.
“It’s one of those deals you got to take it head on,” he said. “I took for granted being able to walk around by myself, getting a shower, going to the bathroom. It’s tough. Before surgery I was fine. Two days later, it really hit me.
“I had my days where I’m like, ‘Man, this isn’t getting any better, I’m sick of working out, I’ve been working out for a year, I’m ready to play.’ It was kind of like cabin fever almost,” Durant said of the long recovery process. “I played a lot of (video game NBA) 2K and watched a lot of the NBA playoffs, even though I said I wouldn’t. That atmosphere, I couldn’t shy away from that so I just wanted to watch it and learn.
“It was tough, man, because I love to play the game and not being able to play at the highest level, it was tough for me. But I’m glad I went through that journey and it’s made me a stronger man.”
Durant is considered a lock to make this Olympic roster, along with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook, provided he is healthy and James wants to play. All but Curry earned gold medals in London games and Davis, Harden and Curry led the U.S. to a gold medal in 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain after Durant pulled out, citing mental and physical exhaustion following a gruesome injury to Paul George in an intra squad game here last August.
Durant initially said he wanted to anchor the team, was one of several young stars, players, including Westbrook, Kevin Love and Aldridge who took a pass on Spain. Durant realizes he created drama when he left the team before their pre-tournament exhibition games but he has been part of the USA Basketball program since 2007 and has played a huge role in international competition.
“I talked to Coach K and Mr. Colangelo about it,” he said. “It’s something I didn’t want to do but I made my decision and stood behind it. I’m just trying to put it in the past. I want to prove to them I’m committed and ready to go.”
The last six spots on the 12-man roster are up for grabs. Assuming Kobe Bryant doesn’t play, forwards Kawhi Leonard, Blake Griffin and center Demarcus Cousins should flesh out three of the final four front court spots with guards Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving competing for the final two guard spots. If Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski wants a third big, he may look to either Love, George, Aldridge or Dwight Howard.
Team USA general manager Jerry Colangelo has 34 candidates in camp. Guards Derrick Rose and Damon Lillard were no shows.
Colangelo and Krzyzewski are expected to monitor the candidates throughout the season and cut down the pool this winter. They will come up with a final roster after the NBA playoffs. Colangelo made two things certain– James, who arrived here late Tuesday, definitely has a spot on the roster even though he will not participating in the light workouts and this will not be just an All Star team because, with a limited turnaround before the start of the games in early August, chemistry will be more important than ever.
Durant will be in the spotlight more than ever this season. He will be focused on trying to get Oklahoma City back to the NBA finals. The rest of the NBA will be focused on his upcoming free agency in the summer of 2016. He is already being referred to as the most scrutinized player in the league.
“I know you guys have to do your job and ask those type of questions but I’m just trying to focus on being 100 percent committed to Oklahoma City and be the best player and leader I can be,” Durant said. “I’ll worry about that when I get there. I haven’t even thought about being recruited. I’m just trying to go out and not get cussed out by Russell Westbrook.”
