In Kevin Durant, New-Look Team USA Has Humble Leader

Filed under: Heat, Hornets, Jazz, FIBA, USA Basketball, Thunder

LAS VEGAS -- The week began with Team USA officials talking extensively about Kevin Durant being such a key part of this summer's team. But then they became quite aware Durant doesn't like that kind of talk.



Not that anything has changed about how much Durant is appreciated on the team that will play in next month's World Championship in Turkey, it now just won't be discussed as much.



"Well, he's probably more comfortable without it being said,'' USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said Friday about the Oklahoma City forward's reluctance to be dubbed the face of the team. "So that's the bottom line. So we won't say it.''



Then again, Durant, 21, is so respectful he says he won't be bothered if Colangelo, who called Durant the "focal point'' of the team earlier this week, were to continue with such talk.







"That can cause tension in the group,'' Durant said about why he doesn't like being singled out. "I really don't like that too much. But if Jerry says it, I guess I got to go with it. I don't really like it too much, being singled out. I just want to be part of a group.''

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/23/in-kevin-durant-new-look-team-usa-has-humble-leader/