Who’s the best young basketball player in the world today? I think Kevin Durant has to be mentioned in any debate by hoop fans, especially based on his recent performance at the FIBA World Basketball Championship in Turkey.
Durant, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on 29 September, was sensational during the competition. He scored a USA-record 205 points during the tournament, including a game-high 28 points in the final against host Turkey 12 September. The Americans defeated the Turks, 81-64, for their fourth world title in men’s basketball and first since 1994.
Durant showed his shooting range in the final, making seven 3-pt. field goals. “He’s definitely the whole package,” said Jerry Colangelo, the chairman of Team USA Basketball. “When you mention the name Kevin Durant, you are mentioning one of the top five players in basketball.”
Durant was named the Most Valuable Player at the world championships, and he says it feels really good to bring the gold medal back to the USA. Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder star became the youngest player in National Basketball Association history to lead the league in scoring, averaging more than 30 pts. a game. If Durant can stay healthy, look for him to score a lot more points in the years to come.
You can check out what Kevin Durant had to say after the USA won the gold medal in Istanbul in this video:
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