Kevin Durant has achieved a monumental milestone in U.S. Olympic basketball history by becoming the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. Olympic team. During the Americans’ quarterfinal match against Brazil, Durant surpassed Lisa Leslie’s record to claim the top spot in points scored by a U.S. player in Olympic competition. A crucial basket made by Durant with 3:06 remaining in the third quarter helped him reach six points in the game and a total of 489 points in his four Olympic appearances.
With this accomplishment, Durant has set himself up to potentially become the first male player in Olympic history with four gold medals. He has been part of the U.S. teams that clinched gold at the London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, and Tokyo Games. Voicing his gratitude, Durant attributed his longevity and success to the dedication of training staff, hard work, and constant gym sessions.
Having scored 28,924 points, Durant ranks as the eighth highest scorer in NBA history, following LeBron James. Regarding this achievement, fellow basketball star Leslie acknowledged Durant’s success and expressed admiration for his talent. Durant’s exceptional performance in Olympic competition places him among a select group of U.S. players with over 300 points, such as Diana Taurasi, Carmelo Anthony, and James.
Furthermore, Durant is not only the U.S. men’s career leader in Olympic scoring but also in rebounds, holding the record with 126 rebounds. This achievement was solidified during the group stage game against Puerto Rico, where Durant surpassed Anthony and David Robinson for the top spot in rebounds. Despite Leslie’s lasting record of 241 rebounds in U.S. Olympic play, Durant’s remarkable feat in scoring and rebounding highlights his unparalleled impact on the game.
