Durant takes his best shot

Make no mistake about it, Kevin Durant's time with USA Basketball is going to come.

It just might not be this time.

The 6-foot-10-inch Seattle SuperSonics rookie could learn his fate as early as today as the deadline for Team USA to submit its official 12-man roster for the FIBA Americas Championship is approaching rapidly. The final roster must be in by Tuesday afternoon, and with 14 players competing for the 12 spots, Durant might be left out, even though he has competed well at the Las Vegas training camp.

"I'm not worried about it," he said Saturday after having a limited participation in the national team's scrimmage with a team of young NBA players. "I'm just trying to do the best I can and play hard every day I'm out here. If it's not good enough, I'm still going to support my teammates."

Durant's play in last month's Blue-White scrimmage sparked debate in basketball circles about his making the final cut. USA Basketball officials love him. Durant's teammates love him. But whether that love is unconditional and he gets a uniform to wear Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center against Venezuela remains to be seen.

"He's done fine," managing director Jerry Colangelo said of Durant. "He's hanging in until the end, and that's a tribute to him.

"He's a very talented kid. He has a quiet confidence about his ability. The veterans have taken him under their wing."

Kobe Bryant can't say enough good things about him. LeBron James said he looks at Durant and sees himself when he was a teenager breaking in. Carmelo Anthony said of Durant, "He's like our little brother. We're all looking after him."

Durant appreciates the kindness. But for him, he'd like to be part of this team, which is trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and needs to finish either first or second at the FIBA tournament to qualify to play in Beijing.

"My goal was to make this team," Durant said. "If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I'm not thinking about four years from now. I'm living in the present."

But part of Durant's battle is that he represents USA Basketball's future more than he does its present. When he's at shooting guard, he's competing with Bryant, Mike Miller and Michael Redd. At small forward, he's at the same spot as James, Anthony and Tayshaun Prince. That makes it tough for him to gain a foothold.

"We've had great competition at this camp, and Kevin has competed extremely hard and well," Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "But he's a young player, and he's still learning.

"I'm not saying he won't be with us. I'm just saying the competition is very fierce among all 14 players."

Said Colangelo: "It's still going to be difficult for him because he's so young."

Yet, as Colangelo pointed out, sometimes things have a way of working themselves out when it comes time for the USA Basketball hierarchy to make tough decisions regarding roster spots.

As he awaits his fate, Durant has remained upbeat. Despite his lack of participation in Saturday's scrimmage, Durant didn't take it as a bad sign.

"Not at all," he said. "Coach went with the guys he went with. I never gave it a second thought."

Durant said he's only worried about the things he can control, that being his performance on the floor.

"I try to go hard and do what they ask me to do," he said. "Score. Rebound. Defend. Whatever they want.

"I feel real good. I'm still young. I'm learning that the game's not easy. It's a long game. There's a lot of possessions, a lot of runs. The game's never over until the final whistle."

Durant said he has gotten over his early jitters and had a good time.

"I was a little scared when I first got here because I didn't know what to expect," he said. "But I'm comfortable now. I feel like I fit in. I'm just having fun and enjoying myself.

"If they choose me, it would be a great honor to play. If not, I'll still be supporting the guys from in front of my TV and hope they bring the gold medal back."