"It's on me to finish": Kevin Durant lauds USA teammates ahead of exciting game against South Sudan
Team USA has plenty of superstars with players like LeBron James and Steph Curry on the roster but it was Kevin Durant that captured the hearts of USA fans in the team's opening game. The veteran forward led by example with a dominant performance in USA's win over Serbia. Instead of relishing his special moment, Durant chose to praise his teammates for their contributions.
Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 23 points in Sunday's opener versus Serbia. He started by making eight consecutive shots from the field and was a perfect 5-5 from behind the arc on the night. In a recent interview from the USA Basketball X account, Durant was asked about his big outing and shined the light on his teammates.
"I just credit that to my teammates. Swinging me the ball, finding me when I'm open, cutting for me so I could get open, and screening for me. Then it's on me to finish," said Durant.
Few expected Durant to have this kind of instant impact. The 35-year-old did not feature in any of the nation's exhibition games leading up to the tournament. He had not played a competitive game since the Phoenix Suns playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 28.
Durant promptly quelled any doubts surrounding his health and fitness with a truly remarkable first-half performance.
"It felt amazing. My lungs went through it, but the more I play, the better I feel," added Durant.
Team USA will play South Sudan in their second group stage game at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Forward Kevin Durant is the USA's highest all-time scorer in Olympic history
Kevin Durant is featuring in his fourth Olympic Games. He was a member of the USA roster in London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2020).
The former NBA MVP has a chance to make history at the Paris Olympics if the USA can once again take home the gold. Durant would become the first men's basketball player to win four gold medals.
Durant also has the distinct honor of being the country's all-time leading scorer at the Olympic Games. He surpassed Carmelo Anthony's previous record of 336 at the 2020 Tokyo Games, and after his 23-point outing versus Serbia, he has a whopping 458 points under his belt. LeBron James currently sits third on the all-time scoring list with 294 points.