Kevin Durant Calls Out Nike For Not Featuring Him In Latest Olympics Ad

The Nike ad is a promotional spot made to build hype for various athletes across sports as they head to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. The absence of Durant, one of Nike's biggest athletes, is bizarre, and only further raises questions about how Nike operates, and their immense influence within the sporting direction of their partners.

Recently, Jaylen Brown seemed to take shots at Nike, suggesting that their hierarchy has something to do with him not being selected to represent Team USA at the Olympics after Kawhi Leonard had to be withdrawn due to injury. Brown is an Adidas athlete, and Nike is the sponsor of Team USA.

Realistically, Nike probably didn't think much of excluding Durant from the commercial, as they probably wanted to have athletes and players from different countries represented in the ad, which is why Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo were focused on in the ad.

Knowing Durant's online persona, it is very likely that even he doesn't care too much about this, and was just harmlessly trolling and having fun on his social media channels. KD has been known to use social media in a way that makes people think he is taking shots, but just having fun.

Kevin Durant Could Make History During These Olympic Games

Kevin Durant won't focus too much on any alleged snub from Nike and will turn his attention to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Durant is looking to help Team USA win their fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics. KD also has some personal stakes at play here, as another gold medal would allow him to cement his legacy as a Team USA player.

Durant currently has three Olympic gold medals. Another medal, especially gold, would help him surpass Carmelo Anthony's medal count and success in the Olympics. Carmelo Anthony has won three Olympic gold medals and won a bronze medal as part of Team USA in 2004.

But KD will have to try and recover before that can happen. Currently, Durant is struggling with some injury problems, and has barely trained or even played for Team USA in their warm-up games ahead of the Olympics. This might affect the range of minutes he plays in the tournament, considering he will need some sort of ramp-up ahead.

Durant had a decent statistical season with the Suns, averaging 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. But a disappointing end to the season after getting swept means KD will be looking for vengeance.

Team USA will be hoping he will be back on the team soon, as he is one of the best players on their roster, and can make shots in late-game situations. In fact, Anthony Edwards recently called KD the alpha of the team. And a player like that needs to be on the court.