Many players have stated their desire to participate on the United States Olympic men’s basketball team in Paris in 2024, but there are only 12 seats available.
Count Kevin Durant in if USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill agrees.
“I’m 100% committed,” Durant said on Monday evening to Yahoo Sports.
Durant has three Olympic gold medals, most recently in Tokyo in 2021, and is the all-time highest point scorer in Olympic history, overtaking Carmelo Anthony. He’ll try to add to that amount next summer, as numerous NBA stars have expressed a desire to play in the aftermath of the United States’ poor performance in the FIBA World Cup in the Philippines last month.
“It’s on whoever is making the calls,” Durant told Yahoo Sports. “They put the team together, they make the decisions, but I’m definitely going to play this summer.” If they wanted me on the team.”
Durant looked sharp in Monday’s preseason game against Portland. Durant scored 19 points in 15 minutes despite barely playing a half. Along with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, he spent the second half in street clothes.
Durant grinned at the prospect of not having to ask for a spot on the team. Former teammate Stephen Curry has expressed interest in participating, filling the one gap on his Hall of Fame résumé. LeBron James hasn’t been on an Olympic team since 2012, but he has declared his desire to compete.
It’s easy to assume they’ll be locks, and Durant won’t have to campaign against Hill.
“I doubt they will [turn me down], I’ve been in the system for too long,” Durant said with a laugh. “I feel like I’m grandfathered in, being around as long as I have.”