Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Durant, US ‘fraternity’ get down to business
RIO DE JANEIRO — Kevin Durant looks ready to lead a new group of Americans to the gold-medal podium.
Durant picked up right where he left off in the 2012 Olympics with 25 points, and the U.S. men’s basketball team routed China 119-62 on Saturday night in its opening game.
The new Golden State Warriors star scored 30 points four years ago in the gold-medal game, when the Americans held off Spain for the championship. Only he and Carmelo Anthony returned from that team, but the new guys were plenty ready for their Olympic moment.
“We just wanted to send a statement to the rest of the world,” Anthony said. “Come out this first game and let everybody know that we’re focused, we’re locked in and we’re about business on this trip.”
DeMarcus Cousins added 17 points and Paul George 15 for the U.S., which is a heavy favorite to win a third straight gold and won’t change any opinions after this performance.
LeBron James and Chris Paul passed on searching for more gold with Durant and Anthony, and plenty more top players who would have been on this roster also declined. But coach Mike Krzyzewski said this squad has already bonded as much as any of the three U.S. teams he has led in the Olympics.
“Just because they aren’t here today, we’ve got another batch of guys that’s walking around on the streets saying they want to win a gold medal and we all have something in common,” Durant said. “It’s cool to have a fraternity of guys who have won a gold medal. It’s rare.”
Durant was 10 of 14 from the field and made five 3-pointers.
“When you get hot, you want to see your bench get excited for you,” Durant said. “That’s better than making the shot, to be honest with you. When I saw my teammates get excited for me, that kept me going.”
Tougher competition might come later, but it should be an easy start for the Americans. They play again Monday against Venezuela, another team they beat easily in exhibition play.
Anthony finished with nine points and made history by becoming the first U.S. male to play basketball in four Olympics. He will become the first three-time gold medalist on the men’s side if the U.S. wins.