WASHINGTON (AFP) – Handa na si Kevin Durant na pangunahan ang US Olympic team at umaasang ang paglahok niya sa Rio ay magpapahinahon sa kanyang kritiko matapos lumipat sa Golden State mula sa Oklahoma City.

Pinangunahan ng two-time scoring champion ang ratsada sa US Team sa tatlong panalo sa five-city exhibition game kung saan nagtala siya ng averaged 19 puntos kada laro. Sa kanyang career sa Thunder, mayroon siyang 28.2 averaged point.

Kamakailan, nagdesisyon si Durant na lisanin ang Oklahoma City para maglaro bilang Warrior sa pagbubukas ng NBA season. May dalawang taon siyang kontrata na nagkakahalaga ng US$53 milyon, ngunit may option siyang hindi na magpatuloy sa ikalawang taon.

Makakasama niya sina back-to-back Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, Kyle Thom,pson at Dryamond Green – teammate niya rin sa US Team – para sa katuparan ng kanyang pangarap na magkaroon ng NBA champion ring.

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“It’s still a little fresh but being able to focus on this makes it a little easier to get past it,” pahayag ni Durant. “I’m just trying to move on from it and just worry about basketball. I enjoy working. I enjoy getting better and playing. That’s what I need to focus on.”

Sa isang All-Star team, bumigat ang responsibilidad ng US upang masungkit ang pangatlong sunod na gintong medalya sa Olympics.

“Anything can happen in basketball. Nothing is ever for sure,” ayon kay Durant. “We want to get this gold, but we’re not gold medalists right now. We don’t have the gold around our necks. Right now we’ve got a job to do, prepare the right way every day.”

“We’re veterans, we’ve played the game at the highest level and we know how to adapt. Once you’ve seen someone after one day, you know what they bring. The good part is just getting to know these guys on a different level. It has been a blast.” (Isinalin ni Lorenzo Jose Nicolas)