Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and the rest of Team USA successfully captured their fifth-straight and 17th overall Olympic gold medal in the 2024 Paris Summer Games after defeating host country France. Curry led the team in scoring, but James was named the Olympics MVP after playing consistently throughout all six of their games.
One former NBA player, however, disagrees with the decision to award MVP honors to the Los Angeles Laker. Rashad McCants believes that Durant is the best player on Team USA’s roster.
“If KD really, really, really wanted to put his foot down, he would be the MVP, because he’s probably the best player on the team,” the former Minnesota Timberwolf told Gilbert Arenas on the “Gil’s Arena” show.
McCants further praised Durant while also seemingly throwing shade at Curry. “He’s seven foot, he can shoot just as good as Steph, and carry Steph to two championships,” McCants continued. “So he can live through Steph’s success too, like, ‘Yeah man, that’s my man!’ But he know what it is. LeBron know what it is. Steph and LeBron, you know what it is.”
Kevin Durant set a record at the Paris Olympics
Kevin Durant made history in the recently ended 2024 Paris Olympics, winning his fourth Olympic gold medal—the most for any NBA player who joined Team USA.
In his first five games, KD came off the bench, dealing with a strained calf before the once-in-four-years tournament. But in the gold medal game, confirming that he’s 100% healthy, coach Steve Kerr decided to put him in the starting lineup alongside LeBron James and Steph Curry.
The Phoenix Suns star took fewer shots compared to Curry and James, ending the campaign as the third-leading scorer in the team with an average of 13.8 points. Steph Curry led the team with 14.8, followed by LeBron with 14.2.
Durant made an impact as soon as he stepped into the court in their first pool round game against Serbia. He made eight out of his nine shots, going a perfect five-for-five from the three-point area.
In the semifinal game, again against Serbia, when the world thought they would witness an upset, Team USA overcame the 17-point deficit and took the lead. Durant scored the final jump shot that extended Team USA’s lead to four, guaranteeing their shot at gold.
Perhaps no one will be able to replicate or exceed Kevin Durant’s historic achievement in the Olympics—ever.
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