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Not one of the NBA gamers who will signify america on the Summer time Olympics in Paris are missing within the top division, however Kevin Durant has accused a few of his teammates of inflating their vertical presents after a photoshoot led to folks realizing one thing wasn’t including up.
Previous to 2019, NBA groups had a good quantity of leeway when it got here to itemizing the peak of the fellows on their rosters, however that every one modified when the league instituted a brand new coverage that required each squad to measure gamers (sans sneakers) by the point coaching camp wraps up as a part of a push to cement the “integrity of data” it gives to the general public.
That pivot will be linked to a reasonably antiquated view of basketball that gave gamers motivation to fudge their official top to keep away from being put in a selected field. For instance, seven-footers who didn’t wish to be pigeonholed as a middle would often underreport, whereas shorter guys who most popular to play nearer to the basket would add some additional inches.
That’s not likely a difficulty in a contemporary recreation the place conventional roles have develop into more and more versatile, however that hasn’t stopped top from being a scorching matter of debate forward of the 2024 Olympics.
Earlier this week, Workforce USA gathered for a gaggle photograph that led to some renewed scrutiny regarding the true top of Kevin Durant (who the NBA formally lists at 6’11” after he spent years insisting he was 6’9″) in addition to a few of his teammates.
KD seems to have not less than a few inches on Anthony Davis though they’re each formally listed at 6’10” on the Workforce USA roster and gave the impression to be nearly eye-to-eye with Joel Embiid though the 76ers massive man is purportedly a fair 7′.
The maths, as the children, say, ain’t mathin’, and Kay Adams determined to handle the difficulty whereas interviewing Durant on Up & Adams within the hopes of attending to the underside of issues as soon as and for all.
.@usabasketball ahead Kevin Durant addresses the rumors about how tall he actually is ????????
“I’m 6’9″ so these guys have to be shorter than what they are saying… Embiid’s not 7 ft.” @KDTrey5 @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/XcpyBELwbC
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) July 11, 2024
Durant as soon as once more insisted he’s truly 6’9″ regardless of all proof on the contrary earlier than accusing his teammates of fabricating their top, saying:
“I suppose these guys are shorter than what their numbers say. I’m 6’9″, so it appears like Bam Adebayo’s most likely 6’8″ as an alternative of 6’10” [he’s actually listed at 6’9″ by both the NBA and Team USA] and AD might be 6’9″.
They’re most likely including a little bit extra on their top whereas I’m conserving mine the identical. I’m not mendacity about my top…Embiid’s not seven ft.”
After all, Durant is without doubt one of the NBA’s most famous trolls, so it looks as if there’s a fairly good probability he’s having some enjoyable on the expense of some of his teammates.
