Kevin Durant's Top 5 scoring games with Team USA feat. Tokyo Olympic final performance
Team USA superstar forward Kevin Durant became the U.S.'s all-time leading Olympic basketball scorer during Tuesday's 122-87 2024 Paris Olympic quarterfinal victory over Brazil. The three-time Olympic gold medalist surpassed former women's superstar center Lisa Leslie (488 points), inching closer to the 500-point mark (494 points).
Durant is no longer the U.S. men's basketball squad's clear-cut premier scoring option, instead serving as a sixth man. Nonetheless, he ranks second in scoring through four group phase and knockout-round games, averaging 14.8 points per game. That includes a summer-best 23-point outburst against Serbia to kick off group play.
However, Durant's top single-game Olympic scoring performances all came during his 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympic runs. On that note, below are his five highest-scoring Olympic outings thus far.
Kevin Durant's highest-scoring Team USA Olympic performances
#3. 28 points against Argentina - 2012 London Olympic group-phase game
One of Kevin Durant's earliest standout Olympic performances came during group play against Argentina at the 2012 London Olympics.
Durant finished with a game-high 28 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and an Olympic career-high eight 3-pointers, shooting a blistering 75.0%. His lights-out shooting guided the Americans to a relatively effortless 126-97 blowout victory.
#2(T). 29 points against Spain - 2020 Tokyo Olympic quarterfinal
During Team USA's 2020 Tokyo Olympic quarterfinal face-off against Spain, Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio erupted for a game-high 38 points. However, Durant valiantly countered Rubio's scoring punch.
The two-time NBA champion compiled a team-best 29 points, four assists, three steals and four 3-pointers, shooting 58.8%. Meanwhile, the Americans held on for a 95-81 win.
#2(T). 29 points against France - 2020 Tokyo Olympic final
Early at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, France snapped Team USA's 25-game Olympic winning streak, pulling off an 83-76 group-phase upset. However, Kevin Durant redeemed his squad in its gold medal clash against the French.
The 14-time NBA All-Star amassed a game-high 29 points, including 21 in the first half, six rebounds, three assists and three 3-pointers, shooting 50.0%. Durant's stellar showing helped the U.S. prevail 87-82, marking his third Olympic gold medal win.
#1(T). 30 points against Spain - 2012 London Olympic final
Kevin Durant also saved his best performance for last at the 2012 London Olympics. In Team USA's gold medal matchup against Spain, he tallied a game-best 30 points, nine rebounds and five 3-pointers, shooting 44.4%.
Durant's versatile play helped the Americans stave off a stacked Pau Gasol-led Spain squad 107-100, designating the superstar forward's first gold medal victory.
#1(T). 30 points against Serbia - 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic final
Kevin Durant again came up big when it mattered most during the U.S.'s gold medal showdown against Serbia at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Durant recorded a game-high 30 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and five 3-pointers, shooting 52.6%. The Americans routed the Serbians 96-66, resulting in Durant's second Olympic gold medal triumph.
Also Read: Top 5 Team USA players with most total points in Olympic basketball history