Durant: Team USA hopes to honor Kobe by playing with passion, energy

Kobe Bryant's presence will be felt when the United States men's Olympic basketball team competes at Tokyo 2020 later this month.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant explained how Team USA plans to honor Bryant's legacy in its first Olympic appearance since his death.

"Kobe Bryant is the guy that all of us looked up to and watched as kids. And even when he was alive and playing, his DNA was embedded in us as players," Durant said. "From afar, taught us what the game is about, what work ethic is about.

"And we all kind of pull from him when he was playing and when he was alive. And now that he's not with us no more, we all want to honor his teachings by going out there and playing with that passion, with that energy every single play."

Bryant captured two Olympic gold medals, one at the 2008 Games in Beijing and another at the 2012 Games in London. Durant also played for the 2012 squad.

Team USA will face Nigeria in Las Vegas on Saturday night in the first of five exhibition games ahead of Tokyo 2020.