Durant’s LA 2028 hopes land on Spoelstra’s desk, and the US Olympic coach is listening

Durant’s LA 2028 hopes land on Spoelstra’s desk, and the US Olympic coach is listening Erik Spoelstra says it's incredible to think of Kevin Durant on the 2028 Olympic team if Durant still wants to play By TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer February 28, 2026, 5:45 PM MIAMI -- If Kevin Durant ultimately decides to chase more Olympic gold, Erik Spoelstra seems interested in coaching him. Spoelstra, the Miami Heat coach who will lead the U.S. men's basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, said Saturday he's aware of Durant's recent comments about the potential of playing for what would be a fifth gold medal. And the concept is clearly intriguing. “Just him saying that is incredible," Spoelstra said before the Heat hosted Durant and the Houston Rockets. "You know, that’s the culture of USA Basketball. You just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, ‘I want to do this.’” When the 2024 Games were complete, Durant said he wouldn't rule out a chance at playing in the Olympics again. And Durant told ESPN in a recent interview that he “would love to" play in the Los Angeles Games, adding that he wants his level of play between now and then to convince USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill, national team director Sean Ford, Spoelstra and anyone else involved in the selection process that he's worthy of a spot. “I want to produce on the floor. ... I want to still prove I can help the team win,” Durant said in that interview. Durant's place in USA Basketball lore was secured long ago. He's the only four-time gold medalist in men's Olympic basketball history, after winning golds in London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, the Tokyo Games that were delayed a year until 2021, then Paris in 2024. In Paris, he became the career leader in points for the U.S. in Olympic competition, passing Lisa Leslie for that mark. Popular Reads Iran live updates: Trump confirms Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead 25 minutes ago Hillary Clinton after Epstein deposi...