“Yeah, if I’m still me.”
That’s how Kevin Durant responded when asked about the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles — when he would be 39 years old and potentially chasing a fifth Olympic gold medal.
It’s a simple statement, but one loaded with meaning. If “being KD” means anything like the version of him we’ve seen across four Olympic Games and countless FIBA moments, then basketball fans might just witness history unlike anything before.
Durant’s Olympic journey has already cemented him as the greatest player in Team USA men’s basketball history. The numbers, the medals, the dominance — it’s all there. But what makes KD’s story so special isn’t just the stats, it’s how he’s consistently been the backbone of Team USA through transition after transition.
The Cut Before the Glory (2007)
Durant’s Olympic arc began not with glory, but with rejection. In 2007, fresh out of Texas, KD received an invite to Team USA’s training camp. He performed well, but when Coach Mike Krzyzewski trimmed the roster, Durant didn’t make the final 12.
Coach K cited “experience” as the deciding factor. And that was true — KD was young, raw, and the team leaned on veterans. But the experience lit a fire in Durant.
Just three years later, he would not only make the team — he would dominate.
KD’s Breakthrough: 2010 FIBA World Championship
The 2010 World Championship in Turkey was where Durant truly introduced himself to the world as a superstar. With big names like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade absent, the U.S. needed a leader. Durant stepped in.
He averaged 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, earning Tournament MVP while leading Team USA to its first gold since 1994. At just 21 years old, KD wasn’t just part of the team — he was the reason for their success.
This was the start of a golden legacy.
London 2012: KD the Scoring Machine
By the time the 2012 Olympics in London rolled around, Durant was no longer a rising star. He was a full-blown offensive juggernaut.
He set the record for most points in a single Olympic tournament, averaging 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. In the gold medal game against Spain, Durant dropped 30 points — the ultimate example of him stepping up when it mattered most.
Team USA won gold, and KD became the international face of American basketball dominance.
2016 Rio: The Clutch Gene
In 2014, KD shocked everyone by dropping out of the FIBA World Cup weeks before tipoff, citing exhaustion. Some doubted whether he’d reclaim his Olympic magic. But in 2016 Rio, Durant silenced every question.
Averaging 19.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, he once again led Team USA to gold. He was named co-USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (with Carmelo Anthony).
At this point, Durant had become automatic for Team USA: if KD played, the U.S. won gold.
Tokyo 2021: KD Saves Team USA
This one might have been his greatest performance.
The 2020 Olympics (played in 2021 due to COVID) saw Team USA without LeBron, Curry, or Harden. Many doubted their chances. They lost an exhibition to Nigeria and dropped their opening game to France. Panic set in.
But KD took over.
He averaged 20.7 points per game, the highest ever by an American in one Olympic run, and became Team USA’s all-time scoring leader in the process. He guided a shaky roster to yet another gold medal, cementing his status as the program’s savior.
It was pure vintage KD — efficient, calm, unguardable, and ruthless in the big moments.
Paris 2024: The Fourth Gold
By 2024, Durant was 35 years old, battling nagging injuries, and playing alongside a “new look” Team USA squad. Many wondered if his best days in international basketball were behind him.
Instead, he just added to his legend.
- He became Team USA’s all-time Olympic rebounding leader.
- He became the U.S.’s all-time Olympic scoring leader, passing Carmelo Anthony and even surpassing Lisa Leslie’s overall mark.
- He won his fourth Olympic gold medal, the most by any men’s basketball player in history.
At this point, KD wasn’t just part of Team USA history. He was the history.
Durant’s Records with Team USA
From 2010–2024, KD’s résumé is unmatched:
- 37 games played across Olympics & FIBA World Championships
- 18.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists per game
- 5 gold medals total (4 Olympic, 1 FIBA World Championship)
- U.S. all-time leader in points (518), rebounds (137), field goals (173), threes made (88), and free throws made (84)
Durant has carried the U.S. through transition after transition, across multiple generations of stars, and always delivered gold.
2028: The Last Dance?
And now, the question: will Durant go for gold one last time in Los Angeles 2028?
He’ll be 39. He’ll have played 20+ years in the NBA. His body has taken hits. But his quote — “Yeah, if I’m still me.” — says everything.
Because if Durant is still KD — the shooter, the leader, the unguardable offensive weapon — then why not?
LeBron played in his 20th year at an elite level. Kareem did the same. And Durant’s game, which relies more on skill and efficiency than raw athleticism, could absolutely hold up at 39.
If he does it, and wins a fifth Olympic gold on home soil? That wouldn’t just make him the greatest Team USA player ever — it would make him one of the most decorated athletes in global sports history.
Final Word
Kevin Durant’s Olympic career is already legendary. Four golds. Countless records. The savior of Team USA in 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021, and 2024.
But KD isn’t done writing his story.
2028 in Los Angeles could be the Last Dance for one of basketball’s greatest international icons. And if he’s still himself, basketball fans should prepare to witness history all over again.
