Kevin Durant did not walk away with an NBA championship this season, but he can end this calendar year with a gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics.
It was announced on Sunday by The Athletic’s Shams Charania that Durant is expected to be on the 12-man roster for Team USA this summer.
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is expected to commit to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics this summer, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Durant averaged 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists over 12 games this postseason.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2021
Durant and the Brooklyn Nets had their historical playoff run end roughly a week ago after his potential game-tying shot fell short. Durant gave everything he had in the loss to the Bucks, as he played the whole game from games four through seven and he had multiple 40-plus performances.
The former Longhorn is now in pursuit of a third gold medal as he was a part of the gold medal teams in both London (2012) and Rio (2016).
The 12-man roster is full after there being 57 potential suitors.
The roster is as followed:
- Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets
- James Harden, G, Brooklyn Nets
- Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers
- Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns
- Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
- Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards
- Khris Middleton, G/F, Milwaukee Bucks
- Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat
- Draymond Green, F/C, Golden State Warriors
- Jrue Holiday, G, Milwaukee Bucks
- Kevin Love, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Brook Lopez, C, Milwaukee Bucks
One interesting note is the fact that Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez all have the opportunity to make it to the NBA Finals. If their team(s) series goes to a game seven, which is currently scheduled for July 22nd, the players will not only miss training camp in Las Vegas, but have three days before their first matchup against France on June 25th.
Even if those players decide to forgo playing, having Durant on the team will leave the United States in prime position to three-peat for gold.