Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is out for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry considers himself "highly unlikely" to participate. But that's not stopping Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant from trying to win another gold.
Durant, 37, says he would like to play for Team USA when it suits up for the 2028 Games, per ESPN.
"You guys, the media, have projected that," Durant told ESPN recently. "That narrative, where did the last dance thing come from? I didn't say I wasn't playing. LeBron said he wasn't. You didn't hear that from me."
Durant later made his intentions extremely clear, saying, "Hell yeah, I want to play." But he added a few caveats to that statement. Durant doesn't want to be put on the team due to his stature. He still wants to earn his spot.
"I've got to stay on top of my game. I'm not expecting, I want to produce on the floor and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions, want to put me on the team. I don't want — not just for seniority. I want to still prove I can help the team win."
If he makes the team at that point, Durant will be a few months away from turning 40. That would be record-setting territory. James currently holds the crown for the oldest NBA player to suit up for Team USA in the Olympics. He was 39 years, 6 months old back when he helped the U.S. win the gold in 2024. Durant would beat James by a few months if he took the court in July 2028.
As for Durant's chances ... well, it's tough to doubt a future Hall of Famer. Despite his already advanced age — for a basketball player, at least — Durant has not shown many signs of decline just yet. He's averaging 26.1 points with the Rockets this season. While that is his lowest scoring average since the 2018-19 NBA season, that's not really a sign of decline. It's more an acknowledgment of both how good and how consistent Durant has played over the past eight seasons.
While it's impossible to know how Durant will continue aging, James' success at 40 and beyond provides hope that Durant can remain effective as he approaches that number. It also helps that Durant — like James — is considered one of the best players of his era.
That should provide some hope that Durant still has a shot to make Team USA in 2028.