Kevin Durant's passion for basketball is as evident as ever. The two-time NBA champion has always been vocal about his love for the game and his eagerness to face off against the best.
Now, in his first season with the Houston Rockets, Durant is eyeing a new challenge. He’s setting his sights on the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Though it's a couple of years away, Durant is determined to compete against the world’s elite, albeit not in the NBA.
Durant has expressed a strong desire to play for Team USA, who will be defending their gold medal on home turf after their victory in Paris. By then, Durant will be nearing 40, following in the footsteps of LeBron James by representing his country well into his 30s.
Addressing recent speculations, Durant clarified his stance: “You guys, the media, have projected that,” he told ESPN. “That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from?
I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t.
You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”
Durant is unequivocal about his intentions: “Hell yeah, I want to play,” he stated. “I would love to, but I’ve got to stay on top of my game.
I’m not expecting, I want to produce on the floor and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions, want to put me on the team. I don’t want - not just for seniority.
I want to still prove I can help the team win.”
“Today, yeah I feel like I’ll put my name in that hat.”
The prospect of Steph Curry joining Durant in the 2028 Olympics adds another layer of intrigue. The duo, who played together from 2016 to 2019, reaching three NBA Finals and securing two championships, have maintained a strong bond despite their parting.
While Vincent Goodwill of ESPN suggests Curry might not participate, the allure of one final Olympic run could be tempting for the Warriors' superstar. As the 2024 Olympics demonstrated, Team USA thrives on assembling its own "Avengers" to maintain global basketball supremacy.
Curry, like Durant, will be approaching 40, but as LeBron has shown, extraordinary talent can sometimes defy the passage of time.