Coach K Endorses Kevin Durant As The Greatest Olympic Basketball Player Ever

Former Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski agreed with Kevin Durant being called the greatest Olympic basketball player of all time.

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Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant will make history in Paris 2024 if Team USA wins the Gold in men’s basketball, becoming the single-most accomplished Olympic basketball player of all time with his fourth Gold medal. Former Team USA coach and Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski thinks Durant might be the greatest Olympic basketball player of all time.

“I think he is because of longevity and accomplishment. It’s unique, but the amount of points he’s scored, he’s scored a lot more than anyone else. When he scored in Istanbul in 2010, he averaged 33 points a game in the medal round. Obviously, in London, he was a part of a huge team that we had with LeBron and Kobe. In 2016,  Rio, he was by far the best scorer and really led us to the Gold medal.”

Coach K showered more praise on Durant.

“What he did against Serbia does not surprise me. He may have been resting his leg, but his touch doesn’t need any rest. It’s one of the best ever in the world.”

Durant is 9th all-time in the Olympics scoring leaderboard, overtaking Drazen Petrovic (Yugoslavia) after putting up 14 points (2-5 FG, 2-2 3PT, 8-9 FT) against South Sudan. Durant’s 472 points in the Olympics over his career are the most by any American player, as KD overtook previous scoring leader Carmelo Anthony during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

While many would lean towards FIBA icons like Manu Ginobili, Pau Gasol, or Oscar Schmidt as the Olympic GOAT, it’s hard to argue with Durant. He could win a fourth Gold medal this year, a feat that might only be replicated by someone like Anthony Edwards or Tyrese Haliburton, provided they play and win in 2028, 2032, and 2036 as well. 


Steve Kerr Called Kevin Durant The Most Skilled Player He’s Ever Seen

Steve Kerr won five NBA Championships as a player, winning three of them with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman on the Chicago Bulls before winning two more with Tim Duncan on the San Antonio Spurs. Kerr has been surrounded by some of the greatest players of all time, later managing Steve Nash and coaching Stephen Curry.

Kerr also coached Durant for three seasons and a few times for Team USA. After KD’s perfect first half in the USA’s win over Serbia, Kerr referred to him as the most skilled player he’s ever seen.

“It was incredible but not surprising given what I’ve seen from Kevin in the past. 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.”

Durant’s skill as a seven-footer might remain unprecedented because even new-age unicorns like Victor Wembanyama aren’t natural scorers like Durant. He’s been a bucket since day one and will be remembered as one of the greatest scorers the game has ever seen.

He might get hate for decisions he made as an NBA player, but his Olympic legacy as arguably the GOAT of the tournament can be secured by leading the USA to a fourth Gold medal this year.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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