Rockets’ Kevin Durant isn’t losing sleep over NBA becoming more global

Houston Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant’s revealing interview about the NBA discussed how the game has evolved internationally. Looking back on his career, Durant confirmed he made music with LeBron James. He also touched on a hot-button topic about today’s stars, including the past four MVPs — Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, and Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid — who don’t hail from the United States as basketball continues to evolve.

Some fans believe there will come a time when the best NBA players won’t be American. Durant sees the evolution of the game as a positive, not something to be criticized, he said, per Boardroom.

“Why is that a criticism? Our game is global. Everybody plays basketball all around the world, and it’s still expanding in different countries and different places,” Durant said. “So yeah, it’s about time. They’ve been coming into the league since the 80s. You know what I’m saying? It’s just a natural evolution for guys from around the world to assume those positions as the best players in the league. Now, the real argument should be who they are influenced by.

“And most of these dudes are influenced by who? Americans. It’s cool getting MVPs and stuff. But who did you watch? You see Jokic and Porzingis. Shai. All these dudes with Iverson jerseys coming up; braids in their hair, crossing over. They try to play like us, too, and they accomplished it, and executed it in their own little way. All of this stuff is imitation. What can you look at and imitate on the court? That’s how I got better. That’s how everybody gets better.”

When Rockets’ Kevin Durant was asked about international stars influencing an entirely new generation outside the United States, he embraced that potential shift, using Lakers’ Luka Doncic as an example, and felt proud of the origins of the players the Lakers All-Star looked up to.

“It doesn’t matter. Because he’s that great, they should get it from him,” Durant added. “I’d love to see Luka from a different country crossing up like we do. You know what I’m saying? He’s bringing it back to where he’s from. That’s a little piece of us there, too.”

the game went global like it was supposed to. Everybody borrowing from somebody, that’s how u get better. @boardroom pic.twitter.com/ycf7q58Sov

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 31, 2026

Durant is entering his 20th NBA season, his second with the Rockets, in 2026-27.

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