Kevin Durant, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, weighed in on the debate surrounding Caitlin Clark’s omission from the U.S. women’s basketball roster for the upcoming Paris Games, saying Tuesday he agreed with the decision but thinks she’ll make a future team.
“I still think there are proper steps you gotta take in our world to be considered an Olympian,” Durant said during an interview with the Wall Street Journal’s editor-in-chief Emma Tucker. “And I think (Clark is) gonna definitely be on one of these teams going forward, but right now, there are better candidates out there, I think.”
USA Basketball announced the team, which features a heavy veteran presence, last week. A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper make up the 12-player roster. The U.S. women have won gold at every Olympics since 1996 and appear positioned to be a favorite in Paris.
Seven of the 12 players selected have Olympic five-on-five experience and two more have three-on-three experience. Only three players — Thomas, Copper and Ionescu — are first-time Olympians.
“Caitlin’s just gotta continue showing up every day,” Durant said. “The…
