After the fact that Kevin Durant quit Team USA the speculation begins on the real reason/s behind his sudden withdrawal.

The statement he released was generic-citing mental and physical fatigue which is common when you're a professional athlete. It is also a puzzle, since this is already his third stint in Team USA, Durant knows just how long and tedious the workouts are. When he committed to Team USA, he is aware of what it will take.

There may have been recent events that prompted his sudden change of mind. He did cite his need to "prepare for the upcoming NBA season." J.A. Adande of ESPN cites that as his main motivation. The bigger picture of the Paul George injury that he witnessed firsthand was that George not only did not lose his season, but he may have lost his best chance of winning a championship.

Durant is afraid it might happen to him:   "By withdrawing from the U.S. men's national team, Durant dropped a pair of still-in-the-box kicks, addressing both the impact of George's injury and the notion of championship windows."

Adande notes that the current Pacers may have reached their peak, and that was the Eastern Conference Finals. With George's injury and Lance Stephenson's departure, the team might be broken up, and George will return to a different team. In short, the "window has closed on the Pacers."

Durant sees his window closing as well: "He has two more years on his contract, Westbrook and Ibaka have three more and next summer Reggie Jackson will command far more than the $2.3 million he'll make this season. There are tangible limits to the Thunder future that once seemed to stretch out like the Oklahoma plains. This season could very well be Durant's best opportunity to win a championship with this group. Or ever."

But for other writers, it's not as cut and dry. Durant was in the news for the immensely lucrative contract that Under Armour was offering him-bigger than his NBA contract. He cancelled an appointment with Nike to meet with Under Armour, and the deal may have been verbally sealed. From Sheridan Hoops:

"The fact that it comes at the same moment that Durant is leaving Nike and finishing details of an unbelievably lucrative $325 million sneaker and apparel deal with UnderArmour makes it fishy. Nike is a major Team USA sponsor."

"Fishy" might be a strong term. "Out of character" would be more accurate, as Adande points out:

"So, for the first time on the national stage, Durant put himself first."

Unfortunately, that is what most fans would remember.