The most realistic target for the Spurs is Durant<\/a>, who seems focused on finding his way to San Antonio. However, the Phoenix Suns have reportedly rejected offers from both the Spurs and Houston Rockets, and San Antonio might not be willing to meet the Suns\u2019 asking price.<\/p>\n However, in the not-so-distant past, legendary head coach Gregg Popovich<\/a> \u201cbegged\u201d for Durant to join his team.<\/p>\n In 2019, during his first year as the head coach of Team USA, Popovich and the Americans failed to medal in the FIBA World Cup in an embarrassing showing. Popovich\u2019s 2019 roster was devoid of established NBA superstars, although they were still heavy favorites in the tournament.<\/p>\n Licking their wounds, Team USA assembled a much better cast of players in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (played in 2021), with Durant being a key player.<\/p>\n Durant played in only 35 games the season prior due to an Achilles injury<\/a>, but he was still Team USA\u2019s best player as they captured Olympic gold.<\/p>\n Durant readily agreed to play under Popovich in the Olympics, and Pop did not hold back when explaining how important he was to their gold medal efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he said no, I would have begged, cried, done anything I could to change his mind,\u201d Popovich said in 2021. \u201cHe loves the game, he really loves to play basketball, he loves to win, he loves the camaraderie, he wants to be part of this.\u201d<\/p>\n The Spurs have the assets to easily pull off a trade for Durant this summer, which would certainly please the scoring forward, although, according to reporter Don Harris<\/a>, the Spurs\u2019 interest in KD is \u201clukewarm\u201d at best.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Popovich still pulls strings in San Antonio<\/p>\n![\"Team](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1332788353-800x627.jpg\")
Photo by Kevin C. Cox\/Getty ImagesDurant and Popovich made waves at the Olympics<\/p>\n