Wilt Chamberlain. Bill Russell. Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. The list of legends that have suited up for Team USA is very long and distinguished, however one player stands above all of the players who have ever played for the United States in international play…..Kevin Durant. Durant who is currently playing for Team USA in his fourth Olympics games in Paris, came off the bench (!) in Sunday’s drubbing of Serbia to the tune of going 8 for 9 (with 5 threes) from the floor having 23 points in limited action. While coming off of the bench for Team USA is something new for KD, these kinds of stat lines are not. Durant is the top scorer in Team USA basketball history with 458 points and will move into the top ten of all time (he’s number 11) international scorers in Team USA’s next game today vs. South Sudan.

Durant is a very tough cover when he plays in the NBA, but he becomes virtually un-guardable playing for Team USA. Standing at 6’10 (wink….KD is likely 7ft tall), with the skill set and shooting that he possesses, most opponents during international can only hope is that he is having an off game rather than stopping him on defense. With the closer three-point line that FIBA uses and the zone defense that other countries are forced to play against the more athletic Americans, Durant uses all of these factors to his huge advantage during international play. The only factor that holds Durant back is that Team USA is always stacked with other legendary NBA players, and he doesn’t have to play huge minutes to guide Team USA to a victory.

Here are a few other players that could have had a case in the past for the title of ‘Mr. Team USA Basketball’:

Carmelo Anthony: Melo usually thrives in FIBA/international play for the same reason KD does: his shooting. Add to the fact that countries can’t key on Melo the way NBA defenses did usually led to Melo getting the pass at the closer FIBA three point line all by himself….which usually meant….money. Melo also took his knocks by starting his Olympic journey on the under-achieving 2004 Team USA crew that finished with the Bronze medal. That has been the only Olympic team that has featured NBA players to not capture the Gold. He did return to capture the Olympic Gold Medal on the 2008 ‘Redeem Team’ in Beijing, the 2012 team in London, and the 2016 team in Rio. Melo currently is tied with KD and LeBron James with having the most gold medals in Team USA history with 3 and currently has the most total Olympic medals in Team USA history with 4.

Charles Barkley: While a lot of attention is paid to the up and down style of Team USA, the FIBA game itself is played at a slower pace with more physicality that an average NBA game contains and that played into Sir Charles wheelhouse. Back in Barkley’s heyday, he imposed his will by being relentless on the boards and wasn’t above shooting a random player from another country a ‘welcome to the big time’ elbow or two. He received international scorn for elbowing an unsuspecting Angola player during the historic 1992 Dream Team gold medal run. Fun fact: while most people remember Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson on the ’92 team in Barcelona, and Penny and Shaq on the 1996 ‘Dream Team III’ team in Atlanta, it was Barkley who actually led Team USA in scoring in both versions and has two gold medals in Olympic play.

Michael Jordan: Michael Jordan can make a claim as the GOAT basketball player of all time. His legendary run with the Chicago Bulls and later the Washington Wizards puts him firmly at the top of the discussion of greatest player of all time. Jordan’s Team USA playing days started back in 1984 when the USA were still sending college players. The coach of that team was then famous Indiana Hoosiers Head Coach Bobby Knight who exclaimed that Jordan was ‘the best basketball player I’ve ever seen’. Jordan at the time of the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles was coming out of the University Of North Carolina and being drafted third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft. Jordan used the Olympics games to showcase what was to come in the NBA in a few months. Jordan then returned to be one of the captains of the 92 Dream Team after leading the Bulls to his second championship. Multiple star players from other countries list Jordan as the reason basketball is so big around the world and is their inspiration.

LeBron James: Similar to Carmelo, James was tapped to play on Team USA’s roster in 2004 but could only come up with Bronze. James has mentioned that he made it one of his main missions to come back to play for Team USA and to win gold. King James returned on the 2008 Redeem Team that featured other stars such as Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Dwyane Wade and captured gold dominating the field. All of the LeBron’s athletic gifts were on display during these games. Being listed at 6’9 and weighing 250 and being one of the most athletic players in NBA history, other countries just do not have an answer for LeBron and everything he brings to Team USA.

LeBron would also return in 2012 and 2016 to help guide Team USA to gold. He is seeking his 4^th gold medal during these games in Paris.

Even with those accolades listed for those players that are listed, Durant’s Team USA resume and body of play shines brighter. With Team USA looking to win Gold in Paris, Durant has a chance win his 4^th gold and move into the top 10 in scoring internationally. Also, it wouldn’t be surprising if KD wanted to make a run to return to Team USA basketball for the 2028 which are going to be held in Los Angeles. It would be the perfect send-off for Team USA’s GOAT.