LeBron James and Kevin Durant are ‘top 5’ players in the world, claims analyst

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are leading Team USA's charge.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are ‘top 5’ players in the world, claims analyst

Team USA greats LeBron James and Kevin Durant are two of the top 5 basketball players in the world, claims analyst Nick Wright

With Team USA’s first win at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the bag, the most profound statement was from the likes of the Big 3 of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. The former two led the team and rightfully deserved all the praise. Curry struggled initially but came up with a bomb from distance at the end. All this led analyst Nick Wright to talk about how these older superstars are on another level.

He was speaking with his colleagues on First Things First on FS1. When talking about how Team USA performed, especially the superstars, he said this:

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the two most prolific Olympians ever on the men's side of things. I can't watch Durant and Lebron do this and not get angry at the Lakers and the Suns. All of us, have maybe prematurely downgraded LeBron and Durant, slightly as far as where they are in the NBA hierarchy. It feels like they are still top 5ish players, even at their age.
Nick Wright on First Things First

He explained his logic based on what he has seen from both of those superstars up until now this season. They are two of the best players in the world.

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Nick Wright suggested that throughout the NBA season, James and Durant have been playing at an elite level. Just that their respective teams, namely the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, did not do justice to their performances.

But in the Olympics, the two are showing what they are made of. Wright suggests, that after Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic, James and Durant make the list even though they are on the wrong side of 30.

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LeBron James and Kevin Durant’s play against Serbia suggests they are on a mission

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are two of the oldest players on the team. But that has not deterred them from taking on the onus of leading Team USA. James showed that when he got his teammates involved early in the game. Then he went on a run in the latter stages to push the game into a double-digit lead.

On the other hand, this was Durant’s first few minutes of game time since joining up with his national teammates in Las Vegas. But he showed his ability when he scored from 7 straight shots. That sort of efficiency in such a short time was what Team USA needed to win comfortably in their first game of the Paris Olympics 2024.

It showed that these two are focused and want to do everything needed to get a win. A competitive edge that has helped the two have incredibly successful careers so far. Add in Stephen Curry, and the Big 3 are all that define the NBA. Elite, uber-competitive superstars, who are some of the best in the world.

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