Kevin Durant calls Olympics ‘therapy’ after controversial free agency decision

Kevin Durant needed the Olympics to get away from criticism of his free agency decision.

After leaving Oklahoma City to join the Warriors in free agency this summer, Kevin Durant needed something to take his mind off the criticism of is decision. Lucikly, he had a few weeks in Rio to look forward to.

Speaking to The Vertical’s Michael Lee after capturing a gold medal—the second of his career—with the U.S. men’s basketball team, Durant classified his time at the Olympics as therapeutic.

“It was therapy for me after making a big change in my life,” Durant told The Vertical. “It made my life easier … I knew [a backlash] was coming. It was definitely different for me, but to come here in an environment where people accepted me and didn’t care about anything except being my buddy, that’s what I needed.”

• Coach K’s impact deeper than gold medals | Durant delivers again for USA

The seven-time All-Star went off in Team USA’s blowout win over Serbia in the gold medal game, scoring 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting.

During the Rio Games, he pulled within 25 points of Carmelo Anthony for the title of top all-time American scorer by dropping a total of 155. With Anthony walking away from international competition, he will likely pass him.

– Kenny Ducey