Kevin Durant teared up while discussing his experience playing basketball for Team USA in the Olympics, according to a sneak peek for the Netflix docuseries Court of Gold.
"Then I looked in the crowd, there's 27,000 people from all walks of life, all different countries, coming together for basketball. ... It’s incredible to see that, you know what I mean?" Durant said while fighting back tears. "As much as I can bring us together that way, that’s what I try to do."
KD appeared struck by the sense of unity brought about by Olympic basketball when all he has witnessed throughout his life living in the United States has been division.
"I come from neighborhoods where people don’t even talk to each other. So much hate in the world, too," he explained. "People get to start laughing and joking for the game of ball. It’s cool to me, so it gets me emotional, dawg."
KD said he’s “grateful” for the game of basketball because the sport has saved his life and "brought me and my family out of a lot of bullshit."
Durant became the first men’s basketball player to win four Olympic gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also surpassed Lisa Leslie as Team USA’s all-time leading scorer.
Following the United States men’s basketball team’s comeback win over Serbia to advance to the gold medal game, KD opened up about what it feels like to represent America in wake of a surge in patriotism due to their victory.
"A lot of bullshit happens in our country," he said, according to Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News. "But a lot of great things happen, too."
Even though it's possible that the 2024 Paris Olympics were his last, the 36-year-old Durant did not entirely rule out the LA 2028 Summer Olympics, stating, "We'll see."
The six-part docuseries Court of Gold premieres Tuesday.