Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Kevin Durant Rejects Idea That International Teams Are On Team USA’s Level: “We Created Basketball”
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Media > Kevin Durant Rejects Idea That International Teams Are On Team USA’s Level: “We Created Basketball”

Kevin Durant Rejects Idea That International Teams Are On Team USA’s Level: “We Created Basketball”

Kevin Durant doesn't agree with the growing sentiment that international teams have caught up to USA Basketball in the last decade.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Jan 16, 2025
5 Min Read
Share

United States guard Kevin Durant (7) celebrates after defeating France in the men's basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry came together this summer to join Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics to prove to the world that the USA is still the best basketball nation. They proved that by going undefeated in their quest for a Gold medal, beating nations like Serbia and France who many tipped to usurp them.

Durant appeared on the ‘Out The Mud” podcast with Zach Randolph and Tony Allen where he went on a lengthy rant about why Team USA is still considerably ahead of the rest of the world in basketball. 

“We beat Serbia three times this summer. You know what I’m saying? So, like one game. Yeah, they’re going to get a game where they look solid. France beat us one time. They did beat us last year. But we beat them for the Gold last Olympics too. We beat them twice for the gold.”

“There’s going to be players like Victor, Jokic, Giannis, I won’t put Shai in there because they’re next door. Those three, if you’re going to look at three players and say, ‘They caught up to the rest of the Americans,’ when we had hundreds and hundreds of Americans that do the same, you can’t just use three players to make that claim to say that it’s starting to catch up now or because of one tight game against Serbia, I don’t believe it’s even close.”

Durant then went on to say that the best international players like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic were more influenced by American basketball. He also hammered home the point that basketball belongs to the USA and a few close games against international teams doesn’t mean the guard has shifted.

“For people to give them credit for just being in a close game with us shows that they ain’t even — can’t compete. We created basketball. They are influenced by us. Luka was influenced by Americans. So is Jokic, so is Toni Kukoc, so is Manu Ginóbili, Tony Parker. All these dudes were influenced by Americans. We set the blueprint.“

“It’s cute for sure for people who want to experience history. ‘I was there to see the changing of the guard between the Americans and Europeans,’ so people wanna try to switch the narrative up or hype some s**t up when in reality, we’ve been dominating dudes for this whole time. They finally get close to 20 points and now you’re saying they’re catching up.” 

“This basketball s**t is ours. We created this s**t for real. The best players come from the places we come from. We set the standard of what being great in basketball is.”

Durant is correct in the sense that the USA still has the best players in the world by quantity. There are more top-level American players than international, but the best players in the league are all international stars. 

The last American MVP was James Harden in 2018, with the last American MVP finalist being Stephen Curry in 2021 (third place). Team USA is still the best, but the best individual players are scattered across nations, which is why the odds of one nation rising to challenge the USA’s status will be challenging.

The 2028 Olympics might bring the French Revolution to Los Angeles, with multiple lottery picks in the last few seasons hailing from France, led by Victor Wembanyama. Outside of that, it’s hard to say any country has a solid enough pipeline of players to challenge the collective strength of Team USA at the pinnacle of the sport when their best players are playing.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Kevin DurantTeam USA
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByIshaan Bhattacharya
Follow:
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 Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
Previous Article Anthony Edwards Goes Off On Timberwolves Starting Lineup After Loss Against Warriors
Next Article Phoenix Suns’ New Starting Lineup And Bench After Acquiring Nick Richards
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Scottie Pippen Admits He’s Exhausted By Michael Jordan Questions
NBA News & Media

Scottie Pippen Admits He’s Exhausted By Michael Jordan Questions

October 5, 2025
Scottie Pippen Believes He’d Be The Best Player In Today’s NBA
NBA News & Media

Scottie Pippen Believes He’d Be The Best Player In Today’s NBA

October 5, 2025
76ers Paul George poses for a photo during media day
NBA Trade Rumors

Paul George Chooses Kawhi Leonard Ahead Of LeBron James, Kevin Durant And Julius Erving

October 5, 2025
NBA News & Analysis

NBA Players Who Came Back Strong After An Achilles Injury

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?