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[Saba Sports News] Kevin Durant could make history at Paris 2024 by securing his fourth Gold medal in men’s basketball, cementing his status as the most accomplished Olympic basketball player ever. Former Team USA coach and Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski believes Durant is already the greatest Olympic basketball player of all time.
“I think he is because of longevity and accomplishment. It’s unique, but the amount of points he’s scored, he’s scored a lot more than anyone else. When he scored in Istanbul in 2010, he averaged 33 points a game in the medal round. Obviously, in London, he was a part of a huge team that we had with LeBron and Kobe. In 2016, Rio, he was by far the best scorer and really led us to the Gold medal,” Coach K said, praising Durant.
“What he did against Serbia does not surprise me. He may have been resting his leg, but his touch doesn’t need any rest. It’s one of the best ever in the world.” Durant is ninth on the all-time Olympic scoring leaderboard, surpassing Drazen Petrovic (Yugoslavia) after scoring 14 points against South Sudan. Durant’s 472 career Olympic points are the most by any American player, overtaking previous leader Carmelo Anthony during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
While many might consider FIBA icons like Manu Ginobili, Pau Gasol, or Oscar Schmidt as the Olympic GOAT, Durant’s achievements make a compelling case. Winning a fourth Gold medal would be a feat that could only be matched by players like Anthony Edwards or Tyrese Haliburton if they continue to play and win in 2028, 2032, and 2036.