Kevin Durant will be 31 years old when the 2020 Tokyo Olympics rolls around. It’s easy to picture him going after one more gold and being the elder statesman of that team led by Anthony Davis, but predicting any of that five years out is about like predicting the Cubs will win the World Series in 2015.
But Durant is excited Gregg Popovich got the job as head coach of USA Basketball. Via Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman.
Kevin Durant on Gregg Popovich getting the USA job: "Oh, that'll be tight" pic.twitter.com/xwPuHIXxiE
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 23, 2015
One of the main criteria — maybe THE main criteria — is to put a coach in the role that players want to play for. Yes, they want to play for their country, and yes they want to use the Olympic platform to promote their brand (read: sell shoes), but it’s a lot of additional commitment for a coach you don’t like and not every top player would go through it. Popovich passes the test with flying colors — guys love playing for him. Consider this as people’s exhibit No. 1 of this.
BTW, this in no way means KD is jumping to the Spurs next summer. Just stop it.