Kevin Durant having one of the ‘best experiences in basketball’ with Team USA at Olympics

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France – USA Basketball forward Kevin Durant was recently told that Spencer Haywood was playfully bitter about him breaking his Olympic scoring average record with USA Basketball men’s senior national team.

Durant told Andscape with a smile, “Spencer will be all right. Records are meant to be broken. Somebody is going to take mine, too.”

By the way Durant played with USA Basketball in its Olympic-opening 110-84 win over Serbia on Sunday night, his scoring records with USA Basketball do not appear to have a chance to be broken anytime soon. The four-time Olympian did not appear in any of five exhibition games the U.S. played before the Games due to a calf injury. Coming off the bench against Serbia, however, Durant was nearly perfect for the U.S. He made 8-of-9 field goal attempts and all five 3-point attempts for a game-high 23 points.

“Oh, man, [the miss] felt great leaving my hands. I definitely wanted to finish the game perfect,” Durant said afterward.

Durant is the No. 1 scorer in USA Basketball history with 435 points through 23 Olympic contests, including a men’s record 156 during the 2012 London Olympics. Haywood held the U.S. Olympic record of 145 total points set during the 1968 Mexico City Games. Durant holds the men’s USA Basketball’s record for points per game during the Olympics, 19.8. He also scored 205 points in nine games for the U.S. gold-medal World Cup team in 2010.

Although forward Kawhi Leonard was removed from the U.S. roster during training camp in Las Vegas, U.S. coach Steve Kerr never wavered on Durant being part of the team as he missed exhibition games. Durant said he felt good enough to return to action after scrimmaging 5-on-5 on Friday in Paris.

“I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to have another chance at a gold,” Durant told Andscape. “I knew so many great players were going to commit, too. So, I wanted to be around those guys as well. You out with the best of the best of the best coaches. It’s incredible. I just want to be able to be on the floor, man. Be out there with the guys …

“You got the best of the best in here. You’re getting better every day. You get to travel the world. That’s one of the best experiences in basketball.”

2024 NBA MVP Nikola Jokić and Serbia jumped out to a 10-2 lead over the U.S. Durant entered the game with 2:33 left in the first quarter with U.S. down 19-14 while Jokić was at free-throw line. Durant has only come off the bench three times in 17 NBA seasons.

Durant showed no rust, nailing his first shot — a 3-pointer 17 seconds after checking in. He had 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting in the first half. Durant vaulted the U.S. to a 58-49 halftime lead after he scored 15 points in the second quarter.

“The second group came in and gave us a big lift. KD was phenomenal. It’s almost like he never missed a beat, a practice, a game or anything. That was a good start for us,” U.S. forward LeBron James said.

“KD was unbelievable in the first half and gave us a big boost,” U.S. guard Stephen Curry said.

Durant didn’t miss until his ninth and final field goal attempt. He was applauded by the projected 27,000 fans at a packed Pierre Mauroy Stadium when he exited the game in the fourth quarter. Durant told Andscape afterward that his body felt good.

Next up for the U.S. is South Sudan on Wednesday. Durant added that he has no issues coming off the bench.

“I told Coach that whatever he needs me to do, I’ll adapt to anything,” Durant said after the game. “It’s always been fun trying to adapt to new roles and what the game is trying to tell me to do.”

USA Basketball’s players echoed the fans’ sentiments about Durant.

“He showed me why he’s my favorite player of all time,” U.S. guard Anthony Edwards said.

“If you watch him in practice, it’s at game speed. There is no surprise that he comes right out and gets back to it,” James said.

“Nothing he does is surprising. He shot perfect in the first half. What did he have? Twenty-one. It’s special. He is so used to this stage. He’s the all-time leading scorer in USAB for a reason,” Curry said.

Curry and Durant exchanged a warm embrace before the game. The two are reunited on USA Basketball for the first time since winning two titles and making three NBA Finals together with the Golden State Warriors. Curry and Durant also dined together in Las Vegas during training camp.

“We definitely, definitely, definitely did talk about some good times that we had together,” Durant told Andscape. “[Curry is] Just an incredible human being. [I’m] Getting to spend some time with him on a deeper level. I’m looking forward to getting to know these dudes on a deeper level already.”

The USA Basketball men’s and women’s senior national teams are playing their preliminary games in the Lille area. They are staying in Lille the night before games. The teams primarily reside in a hotel in Paris, where they practice and will presumably be playing in the quarterfinals on Aug. 6 (men’s) or Aug. 7 (women’s). Durant has been to Paris before, but this was his first time in Lille.

“I’m excited about being in Paris. Always loved France in general, the culture. So anytime I get to visit a new spot, new city, I’m down,” Durant said.

Durant is seeking his record fourth Olympic medal with heavily favored USA Basketball.

So, what carries more weight to Durant, a gold medal or NBA championship?

“You don’t compare them. It’s two different things,” Durant told Andscape. “It’s two different mountains you got to climb. It’s high peaks in both of them. So obviously, in our world, an NBA championship is more respected. But in some parts of the world, the Olympic level is more respected.

“So, I value both because winning is important. So, I love my USA Basketball family and we will see if we can go get another one.”

Sunday’s win against Serbia was Durant’s first since the last day of the regular season. Durant dismissed the notion that playing for the U.S. was a reprieve from the stress of playing for the underachieving Suns last season with USA Basketball guard Devin Booker and Suns guard Bradley Beal. Durant and the Suns have reason for optimism after adding point guard Tyus Jones, point guard Monte Morris and veteran coach Mike Budenholzer in the offseason.

“I’m excited about the season, Bud, his staff, our team,” Durant told Andscape. “We’re getting another year to just get comfortable with one another. Also, we have been underestimated so far this summer since the season ended with a sweep. We deserve to be underestimated as a team, but I’d like that we’ll be able to play a more chip on our shoulders coming in here next [season] to prove some people different.”

Durant’s record statistics with USA Basketball have made him the greatest American to wear the uniform. And the Seat Pleasant, Maryland, native said he has “never had more pride” than now in his fourth Olympics.

“I love representing the United States,” Durant told Andscape. “You go around the world and you talk to people from different countries and you see how interested they are to know what our culture is like in the United States.

“So many people actually want to move to the United States, so we’re very respected around the world. Also very hated, too. But for the most part, we just try to go out there and represent your country and where you come from to the best of your abilities and your family.”