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    Kevin Durant Sets Team USA All-Time Olympic Scoring Record, Passes Carmelo Anthony

    Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVJuly 31, 2021

    SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 31: Kevin Durant #7 of Team United States looks on during the first half of the United States' Men's Basketball Preliminary Round Group A game against Czech Republicon day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 31, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
    Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

    Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant set the all-time career scoring record for the United States men's national basketball team at the Olympics on Saturday.

    Durant surpassed Carmelo Anthony's previous record of 336 points with a three-pointer in the second quarter of Team USA's group-play finale against the Czech Republic at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

    #TokyoOlympics @NBCOlympics

    The new <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamUSA</a> men's Olympic scoring leader, <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KDTrey5</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TokyoOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TokyoOlympics</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/usabasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usabasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/ft0u3LLH1o">pic.twitter.com/ft0u3LLH1o</a>

    The trifecta gave the Americans a 34-33 lead after getting off to a slow start and trailing by seven after one quarter.

    Ben Golliver of the Washington Post tweeted a rundown of Team USA's top five all-time scorers at the Olympics:

    Ben Golliver @BenGolliver

    Kevin Durant (339 &amp; counting) has passed Carmelo Anthony (336) as USA men's basketball's all-time leading scorer in the Olympics. <br>1. Kevin Durant 339 &amp; counting<br>2. Carmelo Anthony: 336<br>3. LeBron James: 273<br>4. David Robinson: 270<br>5. Michael Jordan: 256 <a href="https://t.co/rQHFH0wWQ1">pic.twitter.com/rQHFH0wWQ1</a>

    Durant, who is playing in his third consecutive Olympic Games, is in search of his third straight Olympic gold medal as well.

    The 32-year-old veteran's Olympic accolades are often overlooked because of everything he has accomplished during his NBA career.

    KD is an 11-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion and one-time NBA MVP. He also helped lead the Golden State Warriors to a pair of championships, winning NBA Finals MVP each time.

    This past season, Durant was highly productive coming off an Achilles tear that cost him the entire 2019-20 campaign.

    Kevin Durant Sets Team USA All-Time Olympic Scoring Record, Passes Carmelo Anthony
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    In 35 games for the Nets, KD averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.4 three-pointers made and 1.3 blocks. He also helped the Nets secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and reach the second round of the playoffs.

    Given the injury issues Durant has dealt with over the past couple of years, it was somewhat surprising when he accepted an invitation to play for Team USA at the 2021 Summer Games, but he has become an Olympic fixture for the U.S.

    Before Durant broke the Team USA Olympic scoring record, Melo was often lauded for his performances on the international stage.

    After winning a disappointing bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics, Anthony was a huge part of the Americans winning three golds in a row in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

    Making Durant's scoring record even more impressive is the fact that he is in the midst of only his third Olympics, while Melo played in four.

    Now that he has surpassed Anthony in scoring, Durant will look to match him with a third career Olympic gold medal.