Team USA took a giant hit Thursday when forward Kevin Durant from the Oklahona City Thunder withdrew from the U.S. senior national team that will participate in the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Spain.
The 6-9 Durant– the NBA’s leading scorer and 2014 MVP– had pledged to play in this global tournament last summer was expected be the biggest star on this young team. But he told USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangleo he was just too physically and mentally drained from the season.
Durant’s decision comes less than a week after forward Paul George suffered a horrific broken leg during the fourth quarter of Team USA’s blue-white scrimmage at UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center and leaves Mike Krzyzewski scrambling to find a starting stretch four man on a front line that has already been decimated by the withdrawl of Blake Griffin, LeMarcus Aldridge and kevin Love and once again raises questions over whether NBA high priced stars want to risk injuury by participating in international competitions like this in non-Olympic years.
Durant’s seven-year, $60 million shoe deal with Nike has expired. Nike helped build Durant’s brand with innovative marketing and signature shoes, but tehre is speculation UnderArmour is ready to offer Durant as much as $30 million per year to switch allegiences.
Suddenly, the U.S. senior national team, which appeared to be a lock for the gold medal and an automatic bid to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, has more questions than answers three weeks before leaving for Spain.
The U.S. senior team will resume practice Aug. 13 in Chicago with an exhibitiion scheduled against Brazil scheduled for the next at the United Center. The roster is now down to 15 players and all three of Krzyzewskis’ centers– DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond and Mason Plumlee– have no prior interntional experience.
“This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country,” Durant said in a statement. “I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them.”
There was some thought the 6-10 Love might bail the U.S. out by joining the team at the 11th hour since the trade that would send him to Cleveland from Minnesota for No. 1 draft pick Andew Wiggins is expected to be completed before Team USA’s final exhibition game Aug. 22 in the Garden. But that was before Durant’s unexpected withdrawl. .
If Love is definitely out of the picture, there is a possibility forward Paul Millsap, who was cut Monday, could find his way back to the team. More likely, Team USA was already looking at using versatile 6-8 Chandler Parsons starting at power forward with Kenneth Faried getting meaningful minutes as a backup.
There is no one on the current roster who can make up for Durant’s absence on his own, but his absence does provide an opportunity for 6-10 Anthony Davis to emerge as a true game changer and franchise guards like Derrick Rose and Stephen Curry to become biggest options on offense.
