RIO DE JANEIRO – A carefree Kevin Durant hoisted the American flag above his head and glided across the court, like a kid discovering the joy in flying a kite, after carrying the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team to a rapturous romp of Serbia.

During an emotional summer in which he left behind his first professional franchise, was (mis)cast as a villain for siding with a former enemy and found himself having to defend his character, Team USA provided a much-needed sanctuary. For nearly a month, Durant got to play the game he loves, bond with some new and old friends – and win – without sweating any manufactured controversies or external second-guessing.

“It was therapy for me after making a big change in my life,” Durant told The Vertical in the bowels of Carioca Arena 1 about an hour after scoring 30 points in Sunday’s 96-66 victory. “It made my life easier … I knew [a backlash] was coming. It was definitely different for me, but to come here in an environment where people accepted me and didn’t care about anything except being my buddy, that’s what I needed.”

Durant won his second gold medal with a performance that removed any questions about who was the best player on this team, or in this tournament. Scorching the nets with his flame-throwing jumper, attacking the rim with his go-go-gadget arms, howling and chest thumping, Durant unleashed the kind of performance that hinted that he’ll have little trouble adjusting to an All-Star roster with the Golden State Warriors.

Midway in the second period, Durant had demoralized Serbia with heat-check three-pointers and dunks, so the rest of the game felt like a tune up for his eventual games of H-O-R-S-E with Stephen Curry. “It’s called the ultimate green light,” coach Mike Krzyzewski joked. “You didn’t hear me saying don’t shoot.”

Kevin Durant earned his second gold medal Sunday. (AP) More

Durant has now posted the two highest point totals in the Olympics for an American player: 156 in London in 2012 and 155 in Rio. He is also only 25 points behind Carmelo Anthony as the top all-time American scorer despite appearing in half as many Olympics. As he walked from a joint news conference with Anthony and Krzyzewski after the game, Durant wasn’t certain if he’d return to catch Anthony at Tokyo in 2020.

“I can’t say right now,” Durant told The Vertical. “I’ll be 31, going on 32 …”

Overhearing the conversation, Anthony jumped in and shouted, “He’ll be playing in 2020 and 2024! I’m right. I’m right.”

Durant laughed and shook his head as Anthony darted ahead as the most decorated American Olympic basketball player. For now. “I want to pass him, for sure. Just because it’s ‘Melo, I would love to pass him. But I don’t know if I’ll play or not,” Durant told The Vertical. “Who knows? We’ll see. You never know what’s going to happen in four years. I’m just going to enjoy this one right now.”

[Related: U.S. men’s basketball claims gold with dominating win over Serbia]

Curry, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, James Harden and Durant’s former teammate Russell Westbrook all declined invitations to play in the Olympics, but the U.S. was still expected to easily win a third consecutive gold medal because it still had a four-time scoring champion and former MVP in Durant. But it took awhile for Durant to get going, with his failure to look like himself coinciding with the Americans’ struggles in pool play.

Krzyzewski sat down with Durant and showed him footage of the 21-year-old who assumed control of Team USA in the 2010 world championships in Istanbul and made the star turn that confirmed to Durant that the dreams he had for his career were attainable.

“He said, ‘I want to see that guy again,’ ” Durant said. “So, I woke up, I guess.”

Wanting to “impose my will on the team,” Durant scored 71 points in the final three games, with his teammates hopping from their seats to celebrate whenever he squared up to shoot. USA Basketball managed to win at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain without Durant, who surprisingly pulled out of his commitment after realizing his heart wasn’t in it. Krzyzewski and Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo accepted his decision and welcomed back Durant this summer, when the team was unlikely to escape this tournament unscathed without at least one superstar takeover.

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