There’s no question Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Team USA uniform, and his historic fourth Olympic gold medal he earned on Saturday might have just separated him from the rest of the greats.
Per Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo thinks Durant is now in a league of his own.
“He has put the stamp on being the greatest Olympian,” USA Basketball forward Bam Adebayo said. “He has imprinted his name at the top.”
Duran’t co-star on Team USA, LeBron James had a similar sentiment about Durant, who he spent most of his career competing with.
“KD is one of the all-time greats,” James said. “If you look at his silhouette, look at his skill, he is one of the best players we have ever seen play the game of basketball. No matter your opinion about him or whether you like him, if you really just look at basketball and say basketball player talent, he is out of this world.”
Durant’s gold medal on Saturday made him the first four-time gold medalists in men’s basketball. He also leads Team USA is all-time points, field goals, free throws and three-pointers made. He’s put up 518 career points across four Olympics and the closest all-time scorer to home is LeBron James, who has 358.
Durant had 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in the United States’ gold-medal matchup against France on Saturday.
He has played in all but one Olympics that he was eligible for, winning a gold medal in each, starting in 2012. Even when many stars opted not to participate in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Durant was there leading the team to gold.
It’s unclear whether he will play in the Olympics again. In 2028, Durant will be 39 years old and gearing up to enter his 21st NBA season. It would be a big ask for him to participate in his fifth Olympics, but he didn’t shut the door on the idea when asked after Saturday’s final.
“Who knows, man. We’ll see,” Durant said, per the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds.
Even if 2024 was his last time playing for Team USA, Durant has submitted himself as one of the best to ever do it.