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Despite an incredible performance in his 2024 Summer Olympic debut, Kevin Durant doesn’t want to see the NBA adopt FIBA’s ruleset any time soon.
Durant dominated in his first game back from injury, scoring 23 points on an incredible 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from beyond the arc in a 110-84 Team USA victory over Serbia.
But when a fan suggested that the NBA adopt some major rule changes that differentiate the international game from the US game, Durant quickly shut it down.
Kevin Durant Doesn’t Think Olympic Rule Set Will Help NBA Basketball
“Please @NBA, adopt more @FIBA rules and let us see the best really think the game and play the game like it’s meant to be played,” Twitter user @TylerRelph10 wrote.
To which Durant replied, “I swear yall just be yappin. What rules u wanna see man?”
Relph told Durant that he wanted the NBA to get rid of the defensive 3-in-the-key rule because he believes it’ll improve ball movement and pace of play.
Durant disagreed.
“If u want to eliminate defensive 3 seconds then the games will be slower,” he wrote.
Relph said that he believed the change would lead to better ball movement and less stagnation on offense. But Durant strongly disagreed with that idea and explained why.
“The beauty of basketball is not callin all them sets but playing off instincts and lettin the talent dictate the game, gettin out in transition, driving and kicking, playing random basketball,” he wrote. “U want a trick play every possession like it’s football. That’s not why our game is beautiful.”
Durant then noted that he still wants better ball movement and better off-ball cuts from players. But he wants them to happen naturally.
“Random basketball!! U not comprehending what I’m saying. U can RANDOMLY set a screen, RANDOMLY back cut, RANDOMLY make a pass to the open man. Focus on what I’m saying,” he wrote.
Durant went back and forth with fans on several issues. But ultimately he stated that the NBA needed a balance of set players and “random actions.”
And given how well he played against Serbia, maybe people should just listen to him?