Jerry Colangelo: Durant 'didn't have his zeal' at USA camp
It's tough to fault Kevin Durant for pulling out of Team USA's FIBA World Cup squad; his reasons - he cited mental and physical exhaustion - make a whole lot of sense when you consider that the reigning league MVP played 100 total games last season, and 258 minutes (the equivalent of about five-and-a-half games) more than anyone else in the Association.
Team USA Chairman Jerry Colangelo seemed to notice that something was off with Durant, and told Jared Greenberg and Jerry Stackhouse on SiriusXM NBA radio Thursday morning that he wasn't all that surprised when the Thunder forward announced his decision to opt out:
As I think back on the week, Kevin wasn't himself during the camp. He didn't have his zeal. He didn't have his energy. I mentioned it to the coaches on a couple or three occasions. I said, 'You know, there's something wrong here, he just doesn't have it.' And that's so untypical of Kevin Durant 'cause he's always played with great enthusiasm, innocence, he loved being out on the court, and I didn't really sense that. But nothing was set. And so yesterday at 4:00 or 4:30, when he called, of course it was disappointing and of course I was going to support his decision, but in some ways I wasn't surprised. Just based [on] as I look back on last week, and my recollection of where he was.
Colangelo also said he felt Durant was dealing with some "clutter" in his life away from the court that may have played a part in his decision:
Of course, there's been a lot of things circulating about his business dealings. New representation, Nike, Under Armour negotiations, just a lot of stuff. And Kevin's the kind of guy, at least in my relationship with him and getting to know him, he doesn't need a lot of clutter in his life. He loves being on the floor, and he loves to play with great passion. And if he's not playing like a free spirit, which is who he is, that's a load on his shoulders. And I think all of it is probably weighing on him. Is he tired? Absolutely. I think mentally and physically, when he says he's wiped out, I believe he is.
As for filling Durant's roster spot in the team's camp, Colangelo told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that he hadn't yet made up his mind, but that adding another player was an option. Even with Durant gone, the team has 15 players vying for 12 final roster spots.
"I’ve had a couple of calls," Colangelo said. "I know a couple agents are offering a good couple of their clients who could fit the bill. I’m going to be on the phones tonight. I was just talking with coach [Mike Krzyzewski]. I’m going to see what our deal is going to be.
"Probably it won’t be anything other than we go forward. But don’t rule out the possibility. …As of now, I say no add-ons with a possibility."
[H/T CBS Sports]