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“Another World Cup is coming up, and I want to be there,” he says when asked about returning to the national team. “There haven’t been so many Filipino Americans in the [NBA] league, and Filipinos, period. So knowing that I get to represent that and kind of change the narrative in any way that I can, that’s what I’m trying to do. Hopefully, we can see those dudes [Jalen Green and Dylan Harper] in a Gilas jersey at some point.”
Per the press release: “Valencia Basket has reached an agreement with Montenegrin big man and Spanish international Nikola Mirotic (2.08m, Podgorica, 11/02/1991, age 35) for him to join our Club for the 2026–27 season. The player arrives in Valencia as a free agent after parting ways with AS Monaco, the team with which he played last season’s EuroLeague Playoffs (11 points on 39.3% three‑point shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists for a PIR of 12.7 across 31 games in the top continental competition) and helped win a quartet of titles (Supercup, Leaders Cup, French Cup and French League), posting 11.1 points on 40.3% three‑point shooting and 3.7 rebounds during the 2025–26 campaign.
Durant, who averaged 26 points a game last season for the Houston Rockets, is still near the top of his game. His legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats is secure. But with the Olympics returning to the United States, he has a simple reason for wanting to do it again. “It’s just fun, man,” Durant told The Athletic late last season. “It’s an incredible time. You get to travel the world. I don’t know if we’re gonna get to travel the world with it being in the States, but the last few years, we would go (to) Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Paris, London, Canary Islands, Madrid … being in places that changed not just my perspective about the game, just about life in general. I’ve been in places I’ve never even thought about being in if it wasn’t for the game. That experience is one of the best, man. I encourage everybody to play for their country.”
Former Team USA coach Gregg Popovich put it even more simply after coaching Durant in the Tokyo Games in 2021. “No Kevin, no gold.” When told of Kerr’s words, Durant took them to heart. “I’m humbled and honored to get that recognition,” Durant said. “So many great players have played. They probably didn’t play as long as me; that’s probably why I get that. I’ve been on four Olympic teams. We’ve won gold every time, so I’ve just been around. I show up. “I think that’s what my career has been based upon, just showing up and letting the chips fall where they may. … I experienced some great coaching with Team USA, and that’s really what brings me back.”
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Kerr witnessed that passion firsthand. He has long praised Durant for his preparation through the day-to-day grind of an NBA season. With Team USA, he saw something else. He saw how much Durant loves representing the red, white and blue. “He also loves FIBA,” Kerr said. “He loves the experience of being on a team, with all these guys who he is normally competing against. I think he likes the travel. I think he likes eliminating the NBA bulls— that you have to go through for eight months, and it becomes the most pure sporting experience of a player’s life at that level. Kevin, at his core, he loves basketball as much as anybody I’ve ever been around.”
Durant has been so moved by representing Team USA that he has encouraged other players to take advantage of the Olympic experience whenever it presents itself. “Bol Bol had the chance to play for South Sudan, and I was encouraging him to do so,” Durant said. “I think he might have been injured, but I’m like, man, you need to go experience the Olympics. … Being able to play on that stage and see the pride that people have for where they come from, I think every player should experience that.”
Per FIBA's press release, the lifting of the ban for Russian and Belarusian athletes will first be applied to individual players, coaches, and other personnel. "With respect to the participation of individuals, [it's been decided] to lift the restrictions on all players, coaches, referees, commissioners and other officials in Basketball and 3x3 Basketball. Russian and Belarusian individual players can participate, and officials can be nominated in all FIBA competitions with immediate effect," the statement notes.
Serbia’s coach Dusan Alimpijevic revealed at the post-match press conference that Nikola Jokic had been very ill for the past three days, was on an IV drip, but refused to give up and ultimately helped the team. “One of the most important things is that everyone played at their maximum and gave their best. But this gentleman, who was here just a second ago and is the captain of this team, was very, very sick for the last three days. He refused to give up and leave this team. He came to play, never complained to us, and did what he did. We are so proud to have a captain like him.”
Türkiye are celebrating booking their spot at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 after collecting the win they needed against Iceland to confirm their ticket.
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Josh Lewenberg: Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Lu Dort are good to go in Quebec City tonight. Big game for undefeated Canada (7-0). A win over 2nd-place Argentina (6-1) would go a long way in securing a spot in next summer’s World Cup (magic number would be down to 1) 7:10pm ET@TSN_Sports
Keith Smith: Jusuf Nurkic had 20 points (12-for-12 FTs) as Bosnia fell to Lithuania today. Luka Garza finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
Keith Smith: Aday Mara had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block as Spain lost to Greece today. Sergia De Larrea had 9 points. Baba Miller had 4 points and 5 rebounds. Hugo Gonzalez had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block.
