The return of the Slim Reaper was just what one would have expected. The leading point scorer in the Olympics for Team USA dismantled Serbia with his ludicrous shot-making. Easily put, he was unstoppable. And this came after having no game played during the exhibition and missing every practice before reaching Paris.

There could only be one reason for it. The “Durantula” was itching to get back and hoop with the great basketball team assembled by the US. Subsequently, the more he plays, the better he feels. That’s exactly what revered basketball coach Dawn Staley saw tonight when Durant was ripping apart Nikola Jokic and Co.

While covering the Olympic clash for NBC, she claimed to have never seen Durant ‘as happy’ as he was during tonight’s masterclass. Kevin Durant acted oblivious to it but admitted a straightforward truth. ‘I don’t know about that, I’m happy when I’m playing ball’ he told the veteran coach.

It sure did look like Kevin Durant was on cloud nine after finally returning to the basketball floor. After being subbed in, he went on a solo tear. In the first half, he accumulated 21 points without missing a shot. The highlight was a silky smooth jumper toward the end of the half that perfectly summed up his night.

He would end up shooting 8-9 from the field and adding 23 points in just 17 minutes. If this is the Olympic Durant throughout the duration of the competition, every team is going to be gulping their anxiety before facing the ‘Avengers’ of Team USA.

Steve Kerr acknowledged the great Kevin Durant

For most basketball players, it takes a while after an injury to play at full throttle. That wasn’t the case when Kevin Durant took the floor tonight. Even though it was a recurring calf injury, for KD, his recovery is playing ball. And while it’s second nature to him, Steve Kerr admitted to being awestruck by his roaring comeback.

“Having coached him before, he’s one of the few guys I’ve been around who can step back out on the court and look like Kevin Durant, a player of his caliber. Most players it would take some time to get your rhythm back, and it will, too, for him to a certain extent. But he’s pretty special,” Kerr said after the Serbia win.

Apart from the Slim Reaper, LeBron James had a third consecutive game with 20+ points for the USA. He was the focal playmaker while scoring some tough baskets on the inside on his way to 21 points, 9 assists, and seven rebounds. The two seasoned campaigners took over when the team was struggling and ensured they started the Olympics with a statement win.

Do you think Team USA will continue this dominance with their firepower, or is there a team that can stun them? Let us know your views in the comments below.