While Kevin Durant takes a step back, the U.S. national team is moving forward. [...] the NBA's MVP and leading scorer instead decided he needed a break more than he needed to chase another gold medal. [...] he wasn't in East Rutherford, N.J., where the Americans practiced at the Nets' training center. Durant said his decision to pull out was "definitely tough," adding that playing alongside Curry in the 2010 world championship was "one of the best experiences of my life."