FIBA names Kevin Durant Olympics MVP; He and Patty Mills to All-Star Five

FIBA, which organizes international basketball competitions including the Olympics, on Sunday named Kevin Durant the Games’ MVP and both he and Patty Mills to its “All-Star Five,” essentially first team All-Olympics.

The federation announced both selections Sunday on social media just before closing ceremonies in Tokyo, appropriately referring to his latest — and most accurate — nickname, “Captain America.”

Here’s what the federation said of his selection...

The United States bounced back from their opening day defeat to France and went on to win their fourth consecutive gold. Kevin Durant was the main reason why and is justly rewarded as the MVP of the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament at Tokyo 2020.

“I hate to compare stuff because everything has its own moment. But this is one of those special journeys that is hard to describe. Each and every one of us put in that work every single day. From the coaches, to the trainers, to the players. We all came in with that goal of let’s finish this thing off, let’s build a family, let’s build and grow this team every single day. Each game we continued to grow. It was just that journey which was so important.

It was, of course, a big weekend for KD, signing a $198 million contract extension Sunday that will keep him in Brooklyn through 2026.

Durant is the holder of several Team USA and Olympic records. His three gold medals in men’s basketball are the most in Olympic history, tying him with Carmelo Anthony. His 30 points if the gold medal games in 2012 and 2016 are the most in the Olympics ultimate basketball game and in terms of Team USA records, there’s hardly any category he doesn’t dominate.

Durant finished the Games averaging 20.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game to headline FIBA’s All-Star Five from the Tokyo 2020 tournament. That team includes Durant, his new Nets teammate, Australia’s Patty Mills, Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, French center Rudy Gobert and Slovenian forward Luka Doncic.

Of Mills, FIBA said...

The shooting guard position belongs to Australia’s Patty Mills. Even if there was any doubt for this spot, the flag bearer erased it with an unbelievable performance of 42 points and 9 assists in the Bronze Medal Game against Slovenia. Coming into that contest, Australia had never won an Olympic medal in Men’s Basketball. Mills wasn’t going to let it happen this time around.

“I just tried to leave it all out there and it is a cliched thing to say that the tank was very empty. But you just knew that you needed to find deeper layers to be able to pull the best out of us for the team and that is what all of us done,” Mills said after picking up his first Olympic bronze.

While Durant holds the record for most points in a gold medal game, after Saturday’s bronze medal game, Mills holds the record for most points in the medal round, 42.

In announcing the All-Star Five, FIBA said simply of Durant, “he delivered on a level that proves once again he is one of the greatest basketball players of all time.”

On the women’s side, Breonna Stewart was named MVP.

• Kevin Durant takes MVP honors from the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament in Tokyo - FIBA
• Kevin Durant is the greatest US men’s hoops player ever - Brian Lewis - New York Post