Kevin Durant Says There Were ‘Better Candidates’ for Olympic Roster Than Caitlin Clark

During a recent appearance, Durant stated, “I think she’s going to definitely be on one of these teams going forward but right now, there were better candidates out there.”

NBA champion Kevin Durant supports USA Basketball’s choice to not include Caitlin Clark on their squad for the Olympics.

During a conversation with the Wall Street Journal’s Emma Tucker at Journal House during The Cannes Lions Festival, Durant, 35, stated there were “better candidates” for the roster. The 22-year-old’s exclusion from the women’s basketball team competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics sparked intense debate among fans and analysts.

When questioned about the Indiana Fever rookie, the Phoenix Suns player stated that he believes there are still “proper steps you’ve got to take in our world to be considered an Olympian.”

Durant said, along with his Boardroom colleague Rich Kleiman, “I think she’s going to definitely be on one of these teams going forward but right now, there were better candidates out there.”

WNBA players Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kelsey Plum have all been chosen for Team USA’s 2024 squad.

In addition, he expressed admiration for the WNBA and their efforts in “showcasing” the first overall pick. She is being brilliantly showcased by the WNBA. Every other day, I watch her games on ESPN,” Durant remarked.

“I see her in conversations about whatever topic they’re discussing; there’s a lot of discussion about the game right now, so that’s good too,”

LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Durant, who will play for Team USA in Paris, said that Clark should “continue to keep showing up every day” as she adjusts to life in the NBA.

He mentioned Las Vegas Aces two-time MVP A’ja Wilson when he said, “I think as she continues to keep getting better as a player, her production on the court gets better, then the league will grow along with some of the other women who are coming in.”

Durant continued, “There are just so many amazing players in our league that Caitlin has helped bring attention to, and that will help the league grow over time.”

Speaking to reporters on June 9, Clark expressed her satisfaction with the selection following the unveiling of the Olympic roster.

According to ESPN, Clark stated, “I’m excited for the girls that are on the team.” “I am aware that this is the world’s most competitive squad, and I also understand that my inclusion on the team or exclusion from it might have happened in either scenario. I will be cheering them on to the gold. It will be enjoyable to watch the Olympics because I grew up watching them,” the Fever guard added.

To be honest, I’m not disappointed. It’s a dream, but it offers me something to strive for. I hope to be able to visit there someday. It’s just a bit more motivation, in my opinion. You recall that. Hopefully, I can be there when the next four years roll around.

SIMON COWELL HAS HAD A TOUGH TIME IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND IT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED HIS LIFE.

Simon Cowell faced health problems due to two bicycle accidents that happened two years apart. He and the other judges of America’s Got Talent talked about it on the Today Show with hosts Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Terry Crews. The 63-year-old celebrity had another accident in London in 2022 while riding his e-bike, following a previous fall in Malibu in 2020.

Simon was asked how the bike accidents changed his view on life for the upcoming 18th season of America’s Got Talent.

Before the accidents, he admitted, “I wasn’t in the best shape, so the accidents were pretty bad for me.” It wasn’t until the recovery process that he realized how unfit he was.

Then he said, “It was an eye-opener, a true moment of realization!” Simon noticed his strong passion for biking and said he believed everything happens for a reason.

He declared, “I’m not giving up on my bike,” making his fellow judges happy. He really loves these amazing inventions.

After the second accident, Simon had to go to the hospital, where they found he had a broken arm and a concussion.

Even though the second bike crash wasn’t as bad as the first, it still made Simon break his back and wear a wrist brace for many months. After these accidents, he changed how he lives, especially for his nine-year-old son, Eric. Simon’s fiancée, Lauren Silverman, inspired him to make positive changes.

In an interview last year with The Sun, he talked about dealing with the aftermath of his e-bike accident. Simon said, “I was in such a bad place when I broke my back that I thought about going to therapy for the first time in my life.”

He felt sad because he couldn’t share his feelings with Eric. Simon wondered when he could do activities with Eric again, like playing soccer and going for walks.

Eric was born to Simon and Lauren on February 14, 2014. After Simon’s bike accidents, he shared that his son came up with a funny new nickname for him.

During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the judge from Britain’s Got Talent admitted feeling “embarrassed” after watching episodes at home.

Now, Simon’s back has metal rods and screws after surgery, but he found comfort in Eric comparing him to the famous superhero Iron Man.

Simon proudly said, “When I reunited with my family, Eric said, ‘Dad, you look like Iron Man.’” “Yeah, I’m like Iron Man, indeed,” I grinned.

Since then, Simon doesn’t have trouble laughing off his challenges. He even downplayed more serious injuries from working on the AGT stage in June 2021.

During a kid-friendly Shaolin Kung Fu act, Terry asked Simon if he could see himself doing risky acrobatics. Simon joked, “After hurting my back, going around the garden with Eric felt like a great achievement. But, I couldn’t help thinking, ‘Maybe not such a great idea!’”

Simon’s journey shows his unbreakable determination. Despite the difficulties from the bike accidents, he stays excited about cycling and life, finding humor in his misadventures. Share this article with friends and family!

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