Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose Not Living Up to the Hype for Team USA

Team USA is two of four games in before they get ready to start the FIBA World Games. They will match-up against Spain today.

After all the talking by Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose of what it means to be apart of the USA brand, both have struggled to contribute to the two wins. After all the hyping by the media about how they were the best two players on the team, both have proven to be anything but. The two of them have vastly under-produced thus far and are proving why many fans wish people would stop over stating their greatness.

Earlier this month, Kenny Smith of TNT referenced that Kevin Durant was better than Dwyane Wade and every bit as good as LeBron James. Most intelligent fans laughed at the idiotic statement and the reasoning he provided for it.

However, the simple-minded and too eager to follow grouping of fan was all but giddy to take what he said at face value. Meanwhile, Andre Iguodala has been praised by Mike Kryyzewski for being the team’s best player thus far. And to add further insult, Rudy Gay has outplayed Durant in both games thus far.

Derrick Rose commented earlier this summer about how he was happy LeBron James or Dwyane Wade didn’t sign with the Chicago Bulls. Most basketball analysts praised the young man's bravado and made comments that he was more a competitor than Dwyane Wade or LeBron James.

Coincidently, Rose has been outplayed in every aspect of the game by all the other point guards on the team. Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo have been clearly head and shoulders above him thus far Stephen Curry has been limited by his ankle injury but still has posted better numbers in spite of playing nearly seven more minutes per game.

Today the team plays Spain, the team that last won the FIBA Championship game. Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose had better be the best two players on the floor after all this unwarranted praises thus far this summer. Should they allow Team USA to falter, they better receive the same harsh criticism reserved for a Michael Beasley or even LeBron James after his decision to leave Cleveland. 

When players like Russell Westbrook and Rudy Gay don’t get deserving credit for their play, an injustice is done to the sport. They are every bit as talented and productive as the two players that were over-hyped over them. I understand that the NBA brand is still a business. But the credibility of its brand is being ruined by the actions that it allows to draw in attention.

This habit of giving much to those that haven’t earned it is a sickening trend, and one that appears to be here to stay for good. We often comment about how these players don’t live up to our expectations. It’s time we start holding the media to the same standard.

So the next time you see a player get over-hyped by a media personality, make sure you make a mental note to ignore everything they do from that point on.