<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Make no mistake about it, Kevin Durant's time with USA Basketball is going to come. It just might not be this time. The 6-foot-10-inch Seattle SuperSonics rookie could learn his fate as early as today as the deadline for Team USA to submit its official 12-man roster for the FIBA Americas Championship is approaching rapidly. The final roster must be in by Tuesday afternoon, and with 14 players competing for the 12 spots, Durant might be left out, even though he has competed well at the Las Vegas training camp. "I'm not worried about it," he said Saturday after having a limited participation in the national team's scrimmage with a team of young NBA players. "I'm just trying to do the best I can and play hard every day I'm out here. If it's not good enough, I'm still going to support my teammates." Durant's play in last month's Blue-White scrimmage sparked debate in basketball circles about his making the final cut. USA Basketball officials love him. Durant's teammates love him. But whether that love is unconditional and he gets a uniform to wear Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center against Venezuela remains to be seen. "He's done fine," managing director Jerry Colangelo said of Durant. "He's hanging in until the end, and that's a tribute to him. "He's a very talented kid. He has a quiet confidence about his ability. The veterans have taken him under their wing." Kobe Bryant can't say enough good things about him. LeBron James said he looks at Durant and sees himself when he was a teenager breaking in. Carmelo Anthony said of Durant, "He's like our little brother. We're all looking after him." Durant appreciates the kindness. But for him, he'd like to be part of this team, which is trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and needs to finish either first or second at the FIBA tournament to qualify to play in Beijing. "My goal was to make this team," Durant said. "If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I'm not thinking about four years from now. I'm living in the present."</div> Source: Las Vegas Review Journal
Durant's just got that great positive mentality. He's played well from what I've seen and read. If he makes the team or not, this is an excellent experience for him. All the veteran players like him. What better preparation can you do to get ready for the NBA when you spend time with some of the best players and coaches in the league and get to learn from them?
Durant should be on this team. He is a better fit than Michael Redd and he is a better fit than Tayshaun Prince. Age be damn, he can stretch the defense, rebound, score around the basket, and he is improving defensively. Plus if he is going to be the cornerstone for the Olympics in 2012 and beyond you want to prepare him for it. I honestly feel that Durant is a top 10 small forward in the league before he has even played in an NBA game. 1.) LeBron James (only b/c he led the Cavs to the Finals) 2.) Paul Pierce 3.) Carmelo Anthony 4.) Shawn Marion 5.) Rashard Lewis 6.) Caron Butler (why is he not on this team?) 7.) Josh Howard 8.) Andre Iguodola 9.) Gerald Wallace 10.) Kevin Durant Obviously I've excluded guys like T-Mac who I look at as more of a shooting guard than a small forward and I might have missed someone along the way but this position is does not have the most depth. Ron Artest can definitely be on this list if he gets his game and life in order. But Durant is right there amongst the best swing man in the league and I imagine that he has a legitimate chance of being the best of the bunch in 5 years. Bottom line age shouldn't factor in to the equation. If he is among the 12 best in camp than he should make the team. And I believe that he is.
I think Redd is a great threat purely because he has such a quick release and is going to break international zones. Whether Kev makes it or not, it will have been a super experience and will hold him in good stead for the season.
I have far too much respect for you do believe that I am reading you correctly. I have really high hopes for the youngster too but give a little credit where it is due to players who have actually made the waves at the next level. Where is Richard Jefferson? How about Luol Deng? Don't get me wrong, i hope he is the best player in the league in a couple years, but you can't call him better than Corey Maggette yet. Even Walter Herrmann has proven himself better than a replacement and deserves some credit until he is outdone. Jason Kapono shot better than 51% from 3 land last year while chuckin quite a few up there. All I am saying is that, Shiek, you are the last guy that i expect out there making these kinds of statements. Remember this guy? "After starring at Westinghouse High School in Chicago, the 6' 3" shooting guard attended Bradley University, where he averaged an NCAA Division I-high 36.3 points per game in 1988." How about this guy? "One of the top overall talents in college basketball already... Has all the makings of a future NBA superstar.. Only 18, and has a ton of physical developing to do, a scary thought... Can stroke shots all the way out to college 3... Similar to A-Rahim with his smoothness, and offensive skills, but has even more athleticism.. Very strong post and intermediate game... Has excellent rebounding and defensive skills.. Very calm court demenor, (similar to Tim Duncan) doesn't get rattled easily.. " This one? "In 1995, was named National Collegiate Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club (Naismith Award), the Associated Press (Adolph Rupp Award), United Press International, Basketball America and Eastern Basketball. Was named All-Rookie First Team in 1995-96 after being chosen first overall in the 1995 NBA Draft." Hersey Hawkins, Eddie Griffin, and Joe Smith were all the best players in college, with the most potential and none of them were EVER top ten at there respective spots on the floor. Let's let the kid play a few games before we jinx him.
How many of those guys won both big collegiate awards as a freshman? I agree Shiek may be exaggerating, but Durant has done what no one else has done in college ball.
Odde, watch the Blue/White USA scrimmage again and tell me if there is any 18 year old player that would be able to do what he did against the league's best before he has even played an NBA game? I didn't say that he is a top ten player in the league I said that he is a top ten small forward. And there is no question that I would take him over Richard Jefferson and Luol Deng -- even though I forgot about him originally when I made that post. I guarantee you that outside of the top 3 that most GM's would make a straight up deal right now with their best small forward for KD. It's not just about his potential, this kid has the tools to be an upper echelon player as soon as he steps on the court. I wish that we had more fire power so that Durant wouldn't get as much attention from opposing defenses but this kid truly has superstar potential. If I am crazy for believing that Durant is one of the ten best small forwards in the league then so be it.
"Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Eddie Griffin died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Tuesday. Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his tumultuous pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was waived by the Timberwolves in March. "The cause of death and manner of death, which also includes toxicology results, is pending," said Beverly Begay, chief investigator for the Harris County Medical Examiner's office." that is just wierd . . . awful . . . and wierd.
