After Team USA’s close calls in the warm-up games in Paris and a narrow four-point victory against Serbia in the semi-finals, some would say the world is catching up, but not Kevin Durant.
“No, not really,” Durant said after being asked if the world is closing in on the US, via the Out The Mud Podcast.
“We beat Serbia three times this summer, you know what I’m saying? So, as a single game, yes. They will find a game where they look strong.
“France beat us once, they beat us last year, but they beat them in the last Olympics, you know what I’m saying? We beat them twice and got gold.
“There will be players like Victor [Wembanyama]again [Nikola] Jokic and Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. I will not put Shai [Gilgeous Alexander] in there because it’s next door in Canada. Those three.
“If you’re going to look at three players and say, ‘They caught all the Americans’ when we have hundreds and hundreds of Americans doing the same thing. You can’t use three players to make that claim, to say it’s starting to catch on now, or because of one tough game against Serbia.
“No, I can’t believe it’s close. The fact that people gave them credit for being in a game that is close to us shows that they are not there, they cannot compete. We build basketball. They were influenced by us. Luke influenced by Americans. So is Jokic. It was the same with Toni Kukoc. It was the same with Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker. All these dudes were influenced by Americans. Set a plan.”
Durant added, “It’s really good for people who want to hear history. I was there to witness the changing of the guard from Americans to Europeans. People want to try to change the narrative and talk bad when the truth is we’ve been ruling these guys all along. And finally they are close to 20 points and now you say they are holding them. It doesn’t make sense. We set the standard for what it means to be great in basketball.”
With a huge blow to the US, it is unlikely that LeBron James, Steph Curry and Durant will participate in the next Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles.
But undoubtedly the new generation will stand up for that time.
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