Last Thursday, reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant withdrew from the FIBA World Cup being held in Spain. Durant cited physical and emotional fatigue as the primary reasons behind his decision stating, “After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities from both a time and energy standpoint.” Durant and Team USA are firmly stating that Paul George’s injury played no part in this decision.
No one can blame for Durant for wanting to take a break before embarking on another arduous 82 game season. LeBron, Melo, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and many other superstars have made the very same decision. The difference is that none of those players went through training camp with the goal of competing in Spain. So what changed? Probably the whole emotional fatigue thing.
Durant and USA National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo can say that Paul George’s leg snapping in two like the middle of a Kit-Kat bar had nothing to do with Durant withdrawing buuuuuuuuut…. that sounds a lot like an “emotional fatigue” inducing event to me. Durant probably saw his good friend’s leg turn to Jell-O and realized that he was sacrificing his free time and financial future competing in an event that most Americans deem trivial. That horrific image plus a sore body from carrying the Thunder for over 20,700 minutes over the last eight years led Durant to this monumental decision.
The responsibilities of the players still on Team USA’s roster will now dramatically shift. The team lost its go-to player and different players will now need to shoulder the scoring burden. That being said, Team America’s roster is still more than talented enough to get this done. You know, assuming Anthony Davis or Derrick Rose don’t drop out tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
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