Kevin Durant intends to rejoin USA Basketball for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Durant withdrew from the 2014 World Cup citing exhaustion.

Durant was previously with USA Basketball for the 2010 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

The United States won the World Cup of Basketball while avoiding Spain in the championship game, and it was hardly a relevant moment in the mainstream sports' culture. USA Basketball also advanced their winning streak, with their most recent loss dating back to 2006.

The championship game was aired against Week 2 of the NFL season. 

As one GM told Yahoo Sports, "[Outside of the U.S. team], there's more talent and more interest from basketball fans in the NBA summer league than this event."

After the 2016 Olympics in Rio, the World Cup of Basketball and Olympic Games are destined to become an under-22 developmental tournament.

"We need to get our vets out and move our younger players in," one NBA general manager told Yahoo Sports. "The support's there for the change, and it's getting stronger."

Mike Krzyzewski's run as head coach of USA Basketball has allowed him unique access to top level recruits such as Jabari Parker and Jahlil Okafor.

Mike Krzyzewski believes his experience as a college coach in which the NCAA tournament is a single-game elimination format is a strong attribute for his job as head coach of the United States.

"We know that we're watched closer than anybody," Krzyzewski said. "And I'm the most prepared [coach] to do that, because we've been closely scrutinized for at least 25 years in college basketball. Actually it helps that I'm coming from that environment. 

"Another thing I think that helps when we're in these competitions is that one-and-done is what we live all the time, whether it's an ACC tournament or an NCAA tournament. I've been in 150 to 200 one-and-done games." 

Rudy Gay took an elbow to the top of his mouth in the third quarter of Team USA's win over Lithuania on Thursday.

"I've got a fracture in my jaw, a broken tooth and am going to probably need a root canal," Gay said. "The top is where I got hit. It's painful. It's uncomfortable, and it still bleeds, so I've got to continuously gargle. It is what it is, man.

"I think (the elbow) had a little bit to do with (the situation afterward)," Gay said. "It was a dirty play, man. It was a dirty play."

Gay had to receive treatment into the night before traveling to Madrid for the gold medal game.

Derrick Rose is shooting 8-for-32 (25 percent) from the field in games for Team USA but the Chicago Bulls' guard is remaining upbeat about his health and game.

"I’m loving the way that I’m playing," Rose said. "Of course missing shots, that’s part of the game. But just conditioning-wise and how I’ve been playing defense and low turnovers the last couple games, I’m loving the way that I’m playing. I just have to continue playing defense, get in a better rhythm and knock this rust off along the way.

"I've exceeded my expectations. I’m not sore. My knees are good. I know a lot of people are concerned about that, but I think I’m playing well."

Rose recently played five games in a span of six days. He is averaging 5.4 points in 17.8 minutes.

"Missing layups, that's little rusty stuff that normally comes with not playing for two years," Rose said. "My thing is I know that why I’m missing is because of conditioning. I’m in good condition. But to be in condition to play defense like that fullcourt and still have legs under you for the shot, that’s my thing. But I’m not worried about it at all."

Both Tom Thibodeau and Mike Krzyzewski downplayed Rose's shooting woes.

"He hasn’t played in a long time (regarding shooting), so that was to be expected," Thibodeau said. "The more he plays, the more his timing will come around. Right now he’s missed some layups that are usually automatics. That will come I think as he finds the rhythm of the game."

Derrick Rose says he has no issues as a reserve player for the U.S. national team after appearing to be the favorite to start earlier in the summer.

"We have a deep team," Rose said. "And that’s what makes us so good.

"My role is coming off the bench right now. I'm fine with it. I know no second unit can win when I'm on the court or stick me when I'm on the court."

Rose is using the Team USA experience to improve his basketball shape.

"I’m just trying to put that behind me," Rose said of any trepidation he's feeling as he ramps up his comeback from the two devastating injuries that limited him to 10 games over the past two seasons with the Chicago Bulls.

"I know the questions are going to come and they're going to be there the whole year. So I can’t get tired of it. I’m feeling good right now. Just trying to get in better shape, get in better condition, so that when I do need to score the ball, then it’ll be there."