Kevin Durant is among the biggest scorers in NBA historical past, however he’s technically not the all-time main scorer for any of the 4 skilled groups that he has performed for. Whereas Durant has dominated for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, he has moved round a lot that he hasn’t been capable of go away a definitive legacy with anybody workforce. If something, probably the most secure cease of his profession has been for Group USA on the Olympics.
Durant tried to play for Group USA after his rookie season in 2008, however was one of many final cuts from the well-known Redeem Group. He did not let that discourage him, although, as a result of he has performed for each American Olympic workforce since then. Durant received gold for Group USA in 2012, 2016 and 2021, and now, he’s two wins away from his fourth Olympic gold medal. If Group USA finishes the job, Durant will turn into the primary male Olympian to earn 4 gold medals in basketball.
Fittingly, he’s now additionally the main scorer in Group USA Olympic historical past. Whereas he had lengthy since handed Carmelo Anthony because the chief on the boys’s aspect, on Tuesday, this dunk took him to 489 profession factors on the Olympics. That broke the report beforehand set by Lisa Leslie, making Durant the all-time American chief.
Leslie, who has received 4 Olympic gold medals and two FIBA Ladies’s Basketball World Cup titles for Group USA, took to social media on Tuesday to applaud Durant on his USA scoring milestone.
Sadly for Durant, the all-time total Olympic report is nearly definitely out of his grasp. Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt has scored a staggering 1,093 factors in Olympic play, greater than 300 factors forward of second-place Andrew Gaze of Australia. Durant entered this match at No. 13 total and can go away throughout the high 10. Maybe he might guarantee himself a top-five all-time end if he decides to play within the 2028 match, however Schmidt is simply too distant for a 35-year-old Durant to fairly catch him.
That doesn’t diminish Durant’s achievement, although. The truth that no American will ever method that report is a testomony to the quantity of expertise it brings to the Olympics. No American ever must common 30 factors for Group USA to win gold. Its problem is totally different. It is about becoming right into a workforce construction and doing what’s requested of the gamers. Durant has finished that in spades all through his Olympic profession.
In reality, Durant’s report says as a lot about his dedication to USA Basketball because it does his scoring capability. Group USA cycles by means of superstars sooner than some other nation. Only a few gamers take part within the Olympics greater than a couple of times. However each time Durant has been thought-about, he has both performed for Group USA or a minimum of tried to take action. He’s this era’s definitive American Olympian as a result of he’s the one one dedicated sufficient to this system to stay round lengthy sufficient to earn that title. Even when he is often called one thing of an NBA nomad, Durant will without end be remembered as a legendary Olympian for Group USA.
