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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.
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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