Billy Donovan Must Manage Kevin Durant’s Minutes

Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; USA Team White guard Kevin Durant (52) watches USA Team Blue defender

(35) while dribbling the ball during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Just a few months later, a guy that has probably never turned down a game in his life left the USA Men’s Basketball team, citing mental and physical fatigue:

"“After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.”"

Even though Durant is just 26, he’s played more minutes than any other player his age. According to ESPN.com’s Royce Young, from the 2010-11 season through 2013-14, Durant logged nearly 15,000 minutes, more than any player in the NBA. Excluding last season, he hasn’t played less than 38.5 minutes per game since his rookie season, and has led the league in minutes played three times.

The Thunder has played into May every season except the most recent, and as he explained to Young in 2014, that’s draining for anyone:

"“If you’re on the outside looking in, of course maybe it looks easy because you only see us on the court playing the games. But you don’t see the second after the game is over with the things we do to prepare for the next game. The emotional and physical toll it takes on you when you go home at night, the practices you go through to get prepared, the travel, taking time away from your family to play a game you love to try and win a championship. Guys on the outside don’t see that.”"

Of course, it’s likely that the years of excessive playing time led to unexpected wear-and-tear, culminating in several injuries last season. Durant would play in just 27 games, missing the start of the 2014-15 season, mounting a failed comeback that led to yet another injury before finally being shut down in mid-February.

However, this year, with an improved roster and a new coaching staff, the Thunder are in a great position to have a successful regular season while still limiting Durant’s minutes.

Next: How Does Donovan Fit in?