With less than two years until LA hosts the Games, will Team USA defend its crown? Kevin Durant, just shy of 40 when the Olympics begin, says he still wants a spot.
Durant took the stage at a USA Basketball charity gala in Southern California, reaffirming his goal to suit up for Team USA in 2028. A fifth appearance would push his Olympic point total farther ahead of every male or female player in history.
Even after averaging 26 points per game last season with the Houston Rockets, Durant remains near the peak of his craft. His place among basketball’s legends is unquestioned, yet the home‑court advantage fuels his desire to return.
Before a March matchup against the Rockets, former Warriors boss and 2024 USA coach Steve Kerr hailed Durant as the greatest American male FIBA player ever. Kerr later broke down why the star thrives on the international stage.
Former Team USA coach Gregg Popovich summed it up plainly after guiding Durant in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
No Kevin, no gold.
Durant said Kerr’s praise struck a chord deep inside him.
I’m humbled and honored by that nod,” Durant replied. “Many greats have come before, but they didn’t stick around as long as I have. Four golds and counting, I just keep showing up.
My career’s been about showing up and letting the chips fall where they may. The coaching I received with USA fuels my return every time.
Erik Spoelstra, now the USA head coach after assisting Kerr in Paris, has long been lauded for his Heat leadership. The pride of representing one’s nation on a global stage still lights Durant’s fire.
The pride of your country on a world stage, he said, is a no‑brainer. Playing alongside the game’s elite under elite coaches feels inevitable.
Durant’s love for the national jersey pushes him to urge peers to seize Olympic chances whenever they arise.
I told Bol Bol to chase South Sudan’s spot,” Durant noted. “Even if injury hit, the Olympics are an experience every player should chase.”
Kerr observed Durant’s passion firsthand, praising his grind through an NBA season and his love for wearing red, white and blue.
He also loves FIBA,” Kerr added. “He enjoys the camaraderie of teammates he usually battles, the travel, and the pure competition beyond the NBA grind. Kevin loves basketball like anyone I know.”
Last season, Durant talked about passing wisdom to the next generation, aware how his USA appearances inspire fans worldwide.
You never know who’s watching,” he said. “That awareness pushes me harder. From tattoos in China to chants in Italy, the global love fuels my game.
As he eyes a fifth Olympics, Durant credits the 1992 Dream Team for globalizing basketball, a moment that reshaped the sport’s reach.
The Dream Team showed the world the NBA’s best on one court, sparking curiosity across Turkey, Germany and beyond. That ripple effect still feels fresh today.
Our league has exploded since then, and the respect I receive on the street keeps me grinding,” he reflected. “Will I still be chasing gold when I’m 41?”