Heat's Erik Spoelstra Praises Kevin Durant's Desire to Play in 2028 Olympics

Spoelstra calls Durant's eagerness to represent Team USA at age 40 'incredible' and a reflection of the 'culture of USA basketball'.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed admiration for Kevin Durant's stated desire to play for Team USA in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, even as he approaches his 40th birthday. Spoelstra, who served as an assistant coach for the 2024 gold medal team, praised Durant's tireless work ethic and 'timeless' game, saying his commitment to improvement at this stage of his career is a 'beautiful mindset' that sets a great example for young players.

Why it matters

Durant's eagerness to play in the 2028 Olympics at age 40 highlights his enduring excellence and passion for representing his country. As Spoelstra noted, Durant's willingness to 'raise his hand' and make himself available for Team USA is emblematic of the program's strong culture and the desire of top American players to be a part of it.

The details

Durant, currently starring for the Houston Rockets at age 37, told ESPN that he 'would love to' play in the 2028 Olympics, saying he wants to 'prove I can help the team win' rather than relying on seniority. Spoelstra, who has coached Durant on the national team, praised the veteran's tireless work ethic and 'timeless' game, noting that he can still reliably produce 26-plus points per game while shooting 50% from the field.

  • Durant is currently 37 years old.
  • The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will take place when Durant is approaching his 40th birthday.

The players

Erik Spoelstra

The head coach of the Miami Heat who has also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. men's national basketball team.

Kevin Durant

A 37-year-old NBA star currently playing for the Houston Rockets who has expressed a strong desire to represent Team USA in the 2028 Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Hell yeah, I want to play. I would love to, but I gotta stay on top of my game, I want to produce on the floor and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions want to put me on the team. I don't want — not just for seniority. I want to still prove I can help the team win. Today, yeah, I feel like I'll put my name in that hat.”

— Kevin Durant (ESPN)

“I mean, just him saying that is incredible, and 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. And you can feel his passion for representing the country and the USA on the jersey. He's been incredible in those competitions. But as far as him, what he's doing right now, his game is timeless, it really is.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach, Miami Heat (Zachary Weinberger)

What’s next

The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are still two years away, so it remains to be seen if Durant will ultimately be selected for the U.S. men's national basketball team roster at that time.

The takeaway

Durant's eagerness to play in the 2028 Olympics at age 40 demonstrates his enduring excellence and commitment to representing his country, which Spoelstra praised as embodying the 'culture of USA basketball.' Even as he approaches the twilight of his career, Durant's tireless work ethic and 'timeless' game continue to inspire younger players.