Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant is doubling down on his desire to play for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics on home soil in Los Angeles.
"It's just fun, man," Durant told The Athletic's Nick Friedell late last season. "It's an incredible time. You get to travel the world. I don't know if we're gonna get to travel the world with it being in the States, but the last few years, we would go (to) Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Paris, London, Canary Islands, Madrid … being in places that changed not just my perspective about the game, just about life in general.
"I've been in places I've never even thought about being in if it wasn't for the game. That experience is one of the best, man. I encourage everybody to play for their country."
Durant has previously been vocal about his intentions to suit up for the United States at a fifth Summer Games. The Stars and Stripes have captured Olympic gold each time he's represented the nation.
Durant, MVP of the 2020 Tokyo Games, has been the Americans' leading scorer in three of his four Olympic appearances and is the country's all-time Olympic scoring leader.
However, Durant emphasized a bigger purpose beyond the individual and team accolades.
"You just never know who's watching you," Durant said. "It definitely resonates and makes you go harder. Just knowing that I can impact people in a positive way all around the world … I didn't know that.
"From turning on your TV and people coming up to me with KD tattoos and shit when I'm in China. People coming up - I'm in Italy walking in the background, and people walking behind me. There's 30 people following me, chanting my name."
Durant continues to compete at a high level as he enters his age-38 season. The 16-time All-Star averaged 26 points, 5.5 boards, and 4.8 assists across 78 appearances in 2025-26.
Durant needs just 1,046 points to surpass Kobe Bryant for fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
