Kevin Durant: The Pivotal Asset for Team USA
Kevin Durant has once again proven himself to be an indispensable asset for Team USA during the 2024 Olympics, held in Lille and Paris. Despite a late start due to a hamstring injury that sidelined him for all five exhibition games, Durant has made a significant impact in the tournament.
Initially, Head Coach Steve Kerr planned for Durant to be a starter. However, Durant’s absence during the preparatory phase led to a change in strategy. "I think if Kevin had been here from Day 1, chances are he would be starting. That was the plan coming in. But, given that he missed all of our friendlies and came in late, we had kind of established a lineup that we liked. And when we brought him back, he was only going to play a certain amount of minutes against Serbia, and he played so well and he fit so well with that group," Kerr explained.
Durant has come off the bench in all three group stage games, averaging 19.2 minutes per game, demonstrating his ability to adapt and perform under any circumstances. In these games, he played 17 minutes against Serbia, 22 minutes against South Sudan, and 19 minutes against Puerto Rico. Durant himself seems unfazed by his role off the bench, stating, "I told Coach, whatever he needs from me, I'm willing to do anything and adapt to anything. It's basketball. It really doesn't matter who starts. It's about really who finished the game, who put their impact on the game while they're in the game. So I just try to do my best to impact it any way I can."
Durant's late inclusion has resulted in a second unit that's particularly formidable, featuring Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis. This defensive trio of Durant, Adebayo, and Davis allows for versatile switching without sacrificing rim protection, setting a robust defensive foundation. The result? Team USA led by at least 11 points throughout the fourth quarters in each group stage game.
The team’s strategy of making the most of their bench depth has ensured no player on the roster has logged more than 27 minutes in any single game thus far. The workload distribution has kept the team fresh, with LeBron James leading with an average of 21.8 minutes per game. Kerr sees the benefit of having Durant come off the bench, noting that "there's no plans on changing that. But of course, as the games get more difficult, my guess is Kevin will be playing more and more minutes. So he'll keep coming off the bench for now, but we'll lean on him more and more as we go."
Anthony Edwards, another critical component of the second unit, relishes playing alongside Durant. “I love that he's coming off the bench. I get to play with him, so I hope coach keeps bringing him off the bench. I get to pass it to him. He gets to pass it back. That's probably one of my biggest dreams ever, so that's dope.”
Team USA's performance in the group stage has been impressive, in large part due to their cohesive defense and strategic player rotations, effectively neutralizing their opponents' strengths. Looking ahead, Kerr highlights the challenges they will face and the need to stay prepared. “They’ve got a lot of really good shooters, and they just play hard, they compete play after play. So we'll have to be ready for their physicality and their shooting, and we need to be on edge and ready for them because they're not going to back down.”
Kevin Durant’s integration back into the team’s lineup has been seamless, showcasing his resilience and adaptability. As the tournament progresses and the games become more challenging, Durant's role will undoubtedly expand, providing Team USA with both versatility and veteran leadership. With the balanced minutes and the demonstrated depth of the squad, the team is well-poised for the knockout stages of the Olympics.