Kevin Durant is ready to do whatever is required of him to win a Gold – London Olympics Basketball Update
Kevin Durant was an option, but was not selected in the American contingent that went on to win gold in Beijing, because the time was deemed not right for him to be given the responsibility.
However after spending two years in the NBA and becoming one of the top small forwards in the league, Durant was given a chance to lead team USA into the FIBA World Championship in 2010.Team USA went on to win gold at the World
Championships and an automatic place in this year’s London Olympics.
During the championship, Durant established himself as the go to guy for the Americans and two years on into his career, he has come to be known as the most prolific scorer in the NBA.
Durant has bagged NBA’s scoring title three years in a row by putting up some excellent performances for Oklahoma City Thunder and when selected on the American roster for the Olympics, he was expected to put up a similar kind
of display.
But, in a team full of NBA stars, Durant has been reluctant to take some of the shots he takes at a canter while wearing a Thunder uniform.
The 23 year olds; reluctance to shoot the ball during the exhibition games has gotten him a calling of from Coach K and several team-mates including Chris Paul, who has constantly been urging him – during exhibition games - to
take the opportunities as soon as they come his way.
Being constantly asked to shoot the ball and be the player everybody is accustomed to seeing in a Thunder uniform, Durant is starting to warm up in the London Olympics.
In the first game against France, Durant led USA with 22 points and even though he wasn’t required to score much against Tunisia in the second game, he managed his way to 13 points. For Durant now, the aim is to be everything his
team need him to be in a bid for a golden double;
“It’s different, there’s no doubt about it,” Durant said. “I’m just trying to do what I always do and that’s help my team win games. I’m not worried about anything more than that. I’m here to win a gold medal and whatever my team
needs to me to do to get that done, I’ll do it.”
The NBA’s leading scorer is ready to be one of the top players in the Olympics and when team USA faces off against Nigeria tonight, not only the win, but the prized gold medal will also be on Durant’s mind.
“I’m focused on whatever comes next for us,” Durant said. “Nigeria [Thursday night] is the only thing on my mind. One step at a time and getting gold. That’s it.”
This sure is some bad news for Spain and Co.
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