Kevin Durant returned from a calf injury for his first Team USA matchup of the summer against Serbia, where Durant dominated with 24 points, 21 of them coming in the first half on 8-8 shooting. Durant reflected on playing his first Team USA game of the summer and thanked his teammates for his perfect start to the game.
“It felt amazing. My lungs went through it, but the more I play, the better I feel. I have to give credit to my teammates for 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.”
🗣️ @KDTrey5 on his return to the 🇺🇸 #USABMNT lineup & perfect first-half performance against 🇷🇸 Serbia.#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/QdGJtJtUD4
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 30, 2024
Durant is one of the most uncanny players in the NBA because he seems to always come back stronger after calf injuries.
After a nearly two-year absence for a calf injury which led to an Achilles tear sustained in the 2019 NBA Finals, Durant returned in 2020-21 and had one of the best seasons of his career. If not for injuries to Kyrie Irving and James Harden, Durant could’ve brought a title to the Nets that very season.
Durant has entered the same conversations as LeBron James where fans keep wondering if Durant will suffer a regression in his game. We haven’t seen it so far, as the two-time Finals MVP averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3z98BL5cIo
His teams aren’t contenders anymore, which could be a sign of his decline. LeBron or Steph Curry’s teams aren’t contending even though they have them on the roster, something which would have been unthinkable five years ago.
Steve Kerr Called Kevin Durant The Most Skilled Basketball Player Ever
Fans will have endless debates over Kevin’s position as an all-time legend of the sport because of his championships being won when he joined the 73-9 Warriors. However, the man who coached those Warriors and is now coaching Team USA, Steve Kerr, has given Durant a very lofty title by calling him the most skilled basketball player he’s ever seen.
“It was incredible but not surprising given what I’ve seen from Kevin in the past,” Durant told Brian Windhorst. “I’ve said it before, I think he’s the most skilled basketball player I’ve ever seen. The game just comes so easily for him and a long layoff like that doesn’t seem to bother him. He was brilliant tonight, obviously,” Kerr continued. “Just shifted the game as soon as he got on the floor.”
A comment like this coming from Steve Kerr is worth a lot given the talent he’s been around over his career. This is a man who’s been in locker rooms with Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal as a player and has since been in charge of teams with the likes of Stephen Curry and Steve Nash.
Durant’s skill transcends the game of basketball, as we’re still yet to see a player at his size dominate offensively with the same ease as him. There’ll be big-man scorers who’ll emulate KD, but matching his skill level might be impossible.
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