Kevin Durant has explained how Team USA’s star-studded squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics came together.
The ringleader, of course, was LeBron James.
“Last summer, ‘Bron started texting everybody, giving his input on who we all think should be on the team, and (asking) if everybody was playing,” Durant told The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “When we start sending those (kinds of) texts out, I kind of knew we were all going to get together and that this was a special time.
“I knew Steph was going to play. He had never been on an Olympic team before. He had a World Championship but wanted the Olympic medal. So it was a no-brainer, especially when those two committed, and once the team was built, I kind of knew it was going to be special.”
Curry also had a story to tell about how things came together.
“In ’22, when we were on our way back from Boston, I made a joke (with Kerr) about how this is the only thing I hadn’t done, and pretty much softly committed there,” Curry told The Athletic.
“(Then) last September, watching the World Cup and understanding that this was something I hadn’t done. I felt healthy, and able to do it, so that would be something I would want to do. Same thing ‘K’ said. The texts started flying.”
The end result was spectacular, with the United States winning its fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Steph Curry was especially crucial in Team USA’s success, with 36 points against Serbia in the semifinal and 24 points against France in the final.
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