Coach K ‘surprised’ by Kevin Durant’s decision, Colangelo was not
The USA men’s basketball team have not had an easy road whatsoever to the 2014 FIBA World Cup. With Kevin Love rejecting the offer to play with the team amidst the trade rumors, the team also ended up losing superstars Paul George and Kevin Durant.
More from Kevin Durant
- Steph Curry still defends Kevin Durant: ‘Most misunderstood dude’ in the NBA
- Spicy Kevin Durant returns, argues with random NBA fans on Twitter
- Kevin Durant’s latest Tweet comes with a hilarious challenge for fans
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
- Is Kevin Durant playing tonight? Latest injury update for Suns vs. Timberwolves
The former was lost when he went down with a gruesome leg fracture during the USA scrimmage, and the latter was lost when he cited personal exhaustion as his reason for leaving the team.
Many fans and pundits alike wondered if Durant’s decision not to play was affected by George’s injury, but Durant never commented on the matter.
Considering how difficult the NBA season is, and how important Durant is the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise, it is understandable that Durant needed some time off.
Today, after the USA team’s practice in Chicago, head coach Mike Krzyzewski had a short, but poignant, answer to his thoughts on Durant leaving the team:
Coach K says he was surprised by Durant's decision. And leaves it at that.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) August 14, 2014
USA basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo differed from Coach K’s sentiment:
Hopefully the players are on a better wavelength than Colangelo and Krzyzewski are. Regardless of losing Durant, team USA is still the favorites to win it all at the FIBA World Cup. Host nation Spain will hope to play spoiler, and if the two teams meet in the final, it could be a game for the ages.