Team USA’s Kevin Durant appeared as strong as ever in his most recent performance at the Olympics in Paris in 2024. However, even a superhuman like KD is aware that his basketball career is about to end.
Having played in the NBA for 17 seasons, Durant has undoubtedly considered retiring.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist opened out about maybe laying up his shoes when he appeared on TV One’s “Raising Fame” program on Sunday.
“I tend to think about retirement more as I get older in the league and the league is getting younger,” Durant said to guests Sonya Curry and Lucille O’Neal. “I’m wondering if I should give it up. That is what? But it definitely crosses my mind.
"As I get older in the league and the league is getting younger, I tend to think about retirement more."
Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant during final segment of #TVOneRaisingFame Sunday.
Was filmed in Phoenix.
Great work @tvonetv. I'll have story on episode Monday. #Suns pic.twitter.com/Cqwdf87m2p
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) August 12, 2024
The 14-time All-Star continued by saying that although he has a variety of interests, he now lacks any firm post-retirement plans. All he is aware of is his intention to “stay around the game.”
All Durant knew for sure was that he would have a “huge, huge transition” upon retiring.
Durant is getting older, but he hasn’t shown any clear indications of slowing down. KD, who is 36 years old, averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 41.3% from outside the arc and 52.3% from the field.
Durant’s stature and shooting combination allow him to play for many more years to come.
How long Durant will keep things going is still to be seen. But Durant started making moves off the court not long after the Olympics ended in Paris.
‘Can’t Be Ruled Out’ of Competition To Play For Team USA In The 2028 Olympics Is Kevin Durant
This summer, Kevin Durant not only became the national team’s best scorer and rebounder but also became the most successful men’s basketball player in Team USA history by winning four gold medals. While many believe that the 36-year-old forward’s Olympic career is over, Team USA officials still believe Durant might be a member of the team in 2028, according to Brian Windhorst.
“I won’t completely rule out (Kevin Durant) competing (in 2028). I spoke with representatives of Team USA, and they would immediately give him a conditional yes.”
No one comes close to challenging Durant as the best men’s basketball player in USA history, thus his pursuit of a fifth gold medal will cemented his place in history. While it will be extremely difficult for him to compete in 2032 and tie Diana Tarausi’s record of six straight Gold medals, it will be difficult to turn down the chance to try and capture his fifth Gold on home soil.
When you consider what LeBron James accomplished this summer, just four months shy of turning forty, there’s no reason to believe Durant won’t be a dominant player when the 2028 Olympics come around. Despite a calf ailment, he averaged 13.8 points during the 2024 Games.
Kevin Durant Isn’t Able To Keep His Retirement Thoughts To Himself
As Durant, now thirty-six, prepares to play in his 18th NBA season, he can’t help but consider the conclusion of his NBA career. Considering how much time he’s had to miss during his career to recover from injuries, he still has a lot of miles left in him, but playing at his age makes every season more difficult.
Durant may accomplish something similar given the state of medicine today and the example that LeBron is presently setting by selecting All-NBA teams after playing for 20 years in the NBA. However, the Suns forward opened up about how occasionally the idea of retiring crosses his mind.
“I tend to think about retirement more as I become older in the league and as the league gets younger. I’m not thinking about it all the time. However, it definitely tends in my mind. To be honest, I have no idea what I’ll do. I want to stay in the game since I have a lot of interests. Really, all I want to do is hang out and watch.”
“Over the past 16–17 years, we’ve accumulated a lot that will last for a while. I need to enter the space and decide for myself what I truly want to accomplish after playing soccer. That will be a significant change. I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years, during which time basketball was my daily focus.”
“It hasn’t been no other lifestyle but this, so I want to just have some time and space to really step out of that matrix and figure out who I am as an individual, then step into something…”
In the previous NBA season, Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. He’s prepared to challenge the Suns for the NBA championship this year, and he’ll have to wait a little longer if he needs to consider retiring.
