USA - Durant, Love fired up for Spain

OKLAHOMA CITY/MINNEAPOLIS (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Kevin Durant and Kevin Love had never taken part in a major international basketball tournament before 2010, when they traveled to the FIBA World Championship in Turkey and played vital roles for a title-winning Team USA.

Four years later and the duo are not just world champions, but Olympic gold medal winners.

Without a doubt, Durant and Love will be leaders in the American squad at this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Oklahoma City's Durant and Minnesota's Love are in NBA wars right now, but each has spoken to FIBA about another national team experience that is just around the corner.

For Durant, the MVP of the tournament in 2010, the aim is to capture the Naismith Trophy again.

"There is always one goal," Durant said.

"It will be a tough goal to accomplish, but we're looking forward to the challenge."

For Love, there is simply the enthusiasm of competing at the highest level for his country.

"I'm looking forward to representing the United States in 2014," he said.

"You'll see me in Spain.

"I'm definitely looking forward to playing against different teams and against one of my (Timberwolves) teammates, Ricky Rubio (of Spain's national team)."

Love says there is no overstating the importance of being a USA player.

It filled him with pride, but also made him better.

"That experience in the World Championship gave me a lot of confidence," he said.

"I was playing with a lot of great players in practice day in and day out. 

"Playing against a lot of great teams from around the world that had played together for a long time.

"For me, I was able to take my game to the next level that year and beyond."

When Durant reflects on his first World Championship, he has no difficulty remembering the sensations.

"2010, Istanbul - we brought this trophy back home to the U.S.," he said.

"One of the most amazing feelings I had in my life thus far."

The United States had a scare in the Preliminary Round when they edged Brazil, but otherwise, they cut down the opposition like a scythe slicing through wheat, including victories over Angola, Russia, Lithuania and Turkey to finish the tournament.

Love brought rebounding, scoring and tough defense off the bench four years ago.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski loved his athleticism and toughness.

"2010, that was a great time," Love said.

"It was my first time playing for the national team.

"We had a number of friendly games before we got to Istanbul.

"We got to Istanbul, it was on from there.

"We had pretty good pool and when we got into bracket play, we played some pretty good teams."

The side that has given the USA the most trouble in recent times has been Spain.

The Americans, who are No. 1 in the FIBA Ranking Men, beat the No. 2 ranked Spaniards in the last two Olympics but the games were extremely close.

If the two basketball giants meet this summer, it won't happen until the knockout round.

At the World Cup, the United States will compete in Group C against Finland, Turkey, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic and New Zealand.

Those games will be in Bilbao.

Spain are in Group A with France, Brazil, Serbia, Egypt and Iran and those clashes will be in Granada.

"I'm looking forward to this summer in Spain," Durant said.

"We'll see what happens.

"We beat Turkey (in the Final) in Turkey last time, and that was one of the toughest environments I've ever played in.

"We'll see what happens."

One key for the American players will be to avoid putting too much pressure on themselves.

"We just have to enjoy it every step of the way," Durant said.

"Not too many people get the chance to represent your country and I am doing to do it proudly.

"I'm excited to play with some of the greatest players in the league."

FIBA