Kevin Durant He downplayed Joel Embiid’s recent suggestion that Team USA’s roster was collectively old and “not what they used to be.”
“Of course, we’re older and we all have mileage on our bodies,” Durant told reporters Thursday ahead of the U.S.’s Olympic title defense. “But we figured out ways to be effective, just like (Embiid) has, as he’s gone through injuries.”
The American roster features six players 30 or older, including LeBron James, 39 years old.
Embiid specifically referenced the Los Angeles Lakers superstar in an interview with The New York Times last week, saying, “The LeBron now is not the LeBron he was a couple of years ago.”
However, James has been arguably the Stars and Stripes’ best player in their pre-Olympic tunes.
The four-time Finals MVP is leading the team in both scoring and assists. He scored a late basket to rescue the U.S. from a blowout loss to South Sudan and scored the final 11 points for Team USA in its tight win over Germany.
“The thing about greatness is you adjust and you continue to find ways to be effective,” Durant said. “That’s what LeBron has done. He’s not running and jumping the same way he was when he was 25, 26, but he’s still jumping pretty high and running pretty fast.”
The Americans begin their quest for a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal on Sunday against Serbia.