Steve Kerr handed a surprise package to Serbia during their inaugural game. Leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, many anticipated Kevin Durant‘s return to the court. Team USA’s leading points-getter suffered a calf injury before the Las Vegas training camp. And, KD eventually missed all five exhibition games. While no one expected Kerr to start the Slim Reaper, he not only left everyone in surprise, but went on to dominate the game. Not only the community, but he left the balling superstars floored as well.

After Team USA’s disappointing stint at the 2023 FIBA WC, LeBron James & Co. assembled an “Avengers” unit for the Paris challenge. As soon as USA Basketball revealed the roster, everyone considered Kevin Durant the centerpiece because of Olympic experience. The Suns superstar holds the record for most Golds (3) and the highest points-getter for Team USA. Notably, LeBron James couldn’t have that honor despite his NBA scoring leader title, as he missed two consecutive Olympic outings (2016, 2020).

Nevertheless, Kevin Durant proved why he is the rightful centerpiece with his cracking comeback performance. With less than 3 minutes left in the first quarter, the arena showed sudden unrest as KD silently clocked in. The tall forward dropped two clean 3s in the first quarter, showing a glimpse of what was about to come. Following that, he had a clean 8-8 FG with five rippers from deep range, until he missed one at the end, making it a near flawless 8-9 record. Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 23 points in 17 minutes, helping the team clinch a comfortable 84-110 win.

There’s no doubt that he impressed the entire hoops community with his shooting prowess and attracted reactions from many. Notably, another 3-point king, Damian Lillard, took to his Instagram stories and dropped a picture of KD and wrote, “Very Easy Money.” However, he wasn’t the only NBA name going gaga over the Slim Reaper.

Dame, Ja Morant & other NBA vets pull up with wholesale praise for Kevin Durant

Firstly, Kevin Durant’s former teammate, Stephen Curry, expressed his awe via his IG stories too. Interestingly, the Golden State Warriors legend watched all the action from close quarters. Ironically, one would assume a team will include Steph to exploit the scoreboard from the perimeter, instead it was KD. He shared a post that had KD’s stat line (23 pts, 8/9 FG, 5/5 3PM) and wrote, “Sheeeeeeeeesh K!” On the other hand, Curry capped an underwhelming game with 11 only points, including 3 three-pointers.

Following that, another point guard, Ja Morant, joined the bandwagon, hailing the Slim Reaper. The Memphis Grizzlies star reposted a fan’s comment, which included a scene from the film ‘Above The Rim’ (1994), and drew a weird but funny parallel, mimicking a relatable reaction.

In the movie, Birdie’s opposition needed a player and suddenly roped in someone without “uniform”. “Hold up! What is this sh*t?” Tupac bizarrely questioned the referee.

Interestingly, Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett also reposted the same video and wrote, “Iykyk @KDTrey5 shep!!!,” with a flurry of crying emojis. And, finally, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade penned his emotions witnessing the evergreen Kevin Durant comeback magic via a tweet. He wrote, “I’m sitting here thinking about what KD just did tonite. I just watch one of the greatest basketball moments in my life time.” Importantly, he even described him as a “living legend” alongside a ‘clapping vigorously’ GIF.

Next up, Team USA faces South Sudan on August 1, the team which almost created history in the showcase games, after which they’re now being considered the dark horses of the tournament. Can Kevin Durant recreate his magic? Let us know in the comments below.

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