As the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris draw to a close, the competition has been intense and the performances groundbreaking. With its unmatched skill and undefeated record, the USA basketball team continues to stand out from the crowd. Even among the USA’s stars, Kevin Durant is the Mount Rushmore of the Olympics, and his teammate Devin Booker had high praise for the star.
This Tuesday they beat Brazil 122-87 in the quarterfinals, demonstrating their mastery on the court. In addition to another victory for Team USA, this game was also historic for Kevin Durant, who surpassed Lisa Leslie to become the player with the most points in American basketball history at the Olympics.
Just five points separated Kevin Durant from breaking Lisa Leslie’s incredible record of 488 points before the game against Brazil. He put in a lot of effort and scored 11 points during the game, bringing his total to 494 points. This historic achievement was praised by many, including Leslie himself and Devin Booker, Durant’s teammate on the Suns and the national team.
After seeing the record-breaking performance with his own eyes, Booker expressed his amazement at Kevin Durant’s unique place in Olympic history. Booker said, “This is Captain America status. I feel like he holds every Olympic record. Now we have to get him his fourth gold… Now that we’re teammates (on the Suns), I get to see (his hard work) behind the scenes.”
Leslie, the former record holder, was quick to praise Durant’s performance on social media. Leslie, the former record holder, was quick to take to social media to praise Durant’s performance, posting, “Well, first of all, let me congratulate @KDTrey5 as he gets ready to break one of my Olympic records! The Slim Reaper!! One of my all-time favorites!”
Despite this accomplishment, Kevin Durant maintained his humble and forward-looking attitude. Known for his dedication and determination, Durant prioritized the team’s overall goal over his achievements.
“Records are made to be broken. I’m going to hold onto them until another great comes along and passes me… Lisa Leslie, you are the gold standard in basketball, I appreciate your love and support over the years. Love to you… it’s all about the golden baby. Let’s go get it, guys,” Durant mused.
Before the Paris Olympics, Kevin Durant had already surpassed all previous point scorers for the US men’s team with 435 points. His performance at this year’s Olympics, in which he scored 59 points in the first four games, an average of 14.8 points per game and a shooting accuracy of 60%, cemented his place among the all-time best Olympic point scorers.
His previous Olympic performances have also been notable, averaging 20.7 points per game in 2020, 19.5 in 2012 and 19.4 in 2016—all among the highest ever at the Olympics.
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