Kevin Durant of the Suns shares his candid “turning point” in his career.
Kevin Durant is one of the NBA’s top players and is currently representing Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics. This isn’t Durant’s first Olympic experience. The Phoenix Suns star recently described his 2012 Olympic experience as a pivotal moment in his career, according to The Olympic Games.
“2012 was a turning point in my career,” Durant said. “Just being around greats every single day and seeing how they operate… I absorbed a lot from that experience. You can see the younger players here… Their minds are turning, truly understanding that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The guys are making the most of it.”
Durant is highly respected in the NBA, having won championships, an MVP award, played in multiple Olympics, and made numerous All-Star teams. Playing alongside a future Hall of Famer like Durant is undoubtedly thrilling for the younger players on Team USA.
Durant will turn 36 in September but still has much to offer on the court. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 27.1 points per game, shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from beyond the arc, along with 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
Some in the NBA community argue that Durant needs to win another championship outside of his time with Golden State. He joined the Warriors after losing to them in the playoffs with the Oklahoma City Thunder and won championships with an already star-studded Warriors roster.
Regardless of whether he wins another championship, Durant will be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time. However, another NBA Finals victory would help quiet his critics.
Currently, Durant is focused on leading Team USA alongside legends like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Anything less than a gold medal will be considered a failure for this star-studded roster.