Team USA news: Joel Embiid took a lot of flack after saying that “the LeBron now is not the LeBron that was a couple of years ago.” This is obviously a known fact, but the way the Philadelphia 76ers made his remarks in the context of the competition the national team is set to face in the Olympics did not sit too well with more than a few folks out there.
Kevin Durant, who himself is a prominent member of Team USA, has now spoken out about this issue as he came to LeBron James’ defense.
Team USA News: Kevin Durant Reacts to Joel Embiid’s Comments
Much like LeBron, Durant is also one of the elder statesmen on the squad. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old remains one of the most important members of the team as they look to go for gold in the Paris Games.
“Of course, we’re older and we all have mileage on our bodies,” said Durant, via Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “We figure out ways to be effective, just as Jo has as he’s gone through injuries.”
Durant then took the opportunity to heap praise on LeBron by erasing any doubt as to whether or not James is still capable of leading this star-studded squad in the upcoming international tournament.
“The thing about greatness is that you adjust and continue to find ways to be effective,” Durant added. “That’s what LeBron has done. He’s not running and jumping the same way he was when he was 25, 26 years old, but he’s still jumping pretty high and running pretty fast.”
Team USA might be old, but this does not mean that they’re not going to be a dominant force in the Olympics.
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