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[Saba Sports News] The 2024 Paris Olympics are poised to feature a dazzling lineup for Team USA, with Kevin Durant expected to be a highlight among the luminaries.
Durant eagerly anticipates the traditional one-on-one matchups that unfold during Team USA’s practices, recognizing these face-offs as invaluable for improvement. In a discussion on the Boardroom, Durant expressed his enthusiasm for challenges against basketball heavyweights like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, and Paul George. He’s also excited about the prospect of playing against rising stars such as Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, and Anthony Edwards. However, Durant harbors reservations about squaring off with Joel Embiid, citing concerns over Embiid’s strength and potential physicality in a one-on-one context.
The dynamic within these practice sessions is not new to Durant, who has a history of seeking out one-on-one games, a fact highlighted by DeMar DeRozan’s reflections on the 2016 Rio Olympics. DeRozan reminisced about Durant’s relentless pursuit of these competitive encounters, underscoring how they epitomize the spirit of excellence and self-assessment among elite athletes.
Paul George confirmed Durant’s role in initiating these contests, emphasizing their significance beyond mere rivalry, as they serve as a barometer for personal and collective skill levels among some of the game’s finest.