HOUSTON \u2013 Rockets forward Kevin Durant will be less than two months shy of his 40th birthday when the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begin, but he said Monday night he told USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill he\u2019d like to be considered for the U.S. men\u2019s team when the time comes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to just take my name out of consideration just because of the simple fact that I\u2019m older and I did it before,\u201d Durant said after scoring 18 points for Houston in a 125-105 win<\/a> over the Utah Jazz. \u201cGrant understands my love for Team USA. That\u2019s my family. The level of love I have for Team USA and the whole organization over there is unmatched, so I\u2019d love to be part of it until I\u2019m done playing.\u201d<\/p>\n Durant has played in the last four Olympics, becoming USA men\u2019s basketball\u2019s career scoring leader in the process, but he says he doesn\u2019t want to just be handed a spot on the 2028 team. He wants to earn it.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand how tough that decision is for Grant, and how many great players are going to emerge the next year and a half, and I\u2019m also very old compared to a lot of these players,\u201d Durant said. \u201cI know I’ve got my work cut out for me to make that team.\u201d<\/p>\n During the 2024 Paris games, Durant became the first American player to win four Olympic gold medals in men\u2019s basketball. United States stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird won five gold medals in women\u2019s basketball, but Durant says joining that club is not his motivation for wanting to go through another Olympic cycle.<\/p>\n \u201cI just love playing for Team USA. I love representing my country. That\u2019s the first and most important thing \u2014 it\u2019s putting that USA across my chest and representing where I come from,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Durant is averaging 25.9 points per game on 50.7% shooting in his 18th NBA season.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n