MIAMI – As the Miami Heat try to shake off their disappointment of avoiding another year of play-in tournament purgatory, head coach Erik Spoelstra will work on building consistency over the final 2o or so games of the season. While Spoelstra looks to lead the Heat, he will also have an even bigger task of leading Team USA in future international play, particularly at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where a big star recently advocated for playing.
Although there was some speculation about Durant not attending alongside stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the Houston Rockets star shrugged off that conversation to ESPN, adding that his eagerness to play has increased.
“Yeah, I want to play,” Durant said. “I would love to, but I have to be on top of my game, I want to perform on the field and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions want to put me on the team. I don’t want to — not just for seniority. I still want to prove I can help the team win. Today, yes, I feel like I’m going to put my name in that hat.”
If there’s anyone who loved hearing Duran’s comments, it was Spoelstra, as he said before Miami’s game with Houston on Saturday afternoon that the star embodies “the culture of USA Basketball.”
“I mean, it’s incredible for him to say that and that’s the culture of USA Basketball,” Spoelstra said. “You just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, I want to do this. And you can feel his passion to represent the country and America on the jersey. He’s been unbelievable in those competitions. But as far as him, what he’s doing right now, his game is timeless, it really is.”
Erik Spoelstra reacts to Kevin Durant saying he wants to play for Team USA in LA as he approaches 40 years old:
“I mean, it’s incredible for him to say that…”
Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/ES4HSVbXIn
– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026
Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on his experience with Kevin Durant on Team USA
Durant’s impact on Team USA Basketball is immense, as he is the men’s all-time leading scorer in Olympic competition and a four-time gold medalist. Currently 37, the star will be approaching 40 by the time of the 2028 Olympics, but there’s no doubt that Durant is still an elite player, as evidenced by his current stint in Houston.
Currently with the Rockets, Durant is averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from deep. Spoelstra will highlight how timeless Durant’s game is and what he saw from the star when he was an assistant coach on the 2024 gold medal team.
“You look at what he does at this age, and you can book him for 26-plus, shooting 50 percent on jump shots,” Spoelstra said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re there or not. He’s a complete tactician in terms of his work ethic and practice. It’s a great lesson for all the young players coming into the league. Making shots is one thing, and really working on player development is another.”
“And I think it’s an accomplishment that we all had, you know, watching him work during the summer, six weeks after practice, before practice, the days in between, he’s going out there with intent,” Spoelstra continued. “You know, even at this age, trying to get better and improve, what a beautiful mentality to have, so he’s definitely added a lot to his team.”
At any rate, it remains to be seen what Spoelstra’s roster will be like for Team USA in 2028, with Durant having a good chance of being on the team.
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