Kevin Durant after being LeBron James’ teammate: ‘You can see why he’s considered the best player to ever play’

Kevin Durant is getting an up-close look at LeBron James as his teammate on Team USA, and Durant said he understands why the 39-year-old superstar is considered the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) by some.

“It’s just the enthusiasm and the energy he has for the game is just contagious,” Durant said. “And the more you’re around him as a teammate, you can see why he’s considered the best player to ever play.”

Coming off his 21st NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar remains one of the best players in the league, even at that advanced stage of his career. He, Durant and the rest of Team USA are preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics that begin later this month.

The U.S. team is looking for its fifth consecutive gold medal in men’s basketball, a streak that includes its latest victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, when Durant was named MVP of the tournament.

The Phoenix Suns superstar is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, including at the 2016 Rio Olympics and as James’ teammate at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Lakers superstar has won two Olympic gold medals, including at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

James and Durant have fashioned a healthy rivalry in the NBA as they have been among the league’s best players for quite some time. Their history includes Durant winning the only two NBA championships of his career with the Golden State Warriors with victories over James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals.

Durant and the Warriors won eight of those nine games between the teams, and he was named Finals MVP in both series. Once maybe considered to be at the fringes of the G.O.A.T. debate, Durant has not found similar team success since leaving Golden State, which has diminished his case considerably.

On the other hand, James only enhanced his status by helping the Lakers win the 2020 NBA title, his fourth in the league as he chases the six titles won by Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

Following the Olympics, James will eventually begin preparing for what should be a historic season. After the Lakers selected his son Bronny with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the stage has been set for the two to become the first father-son duo to play in the NBA as teammates.