Kevin Durant: The Catalyst for Team USA's Success
In the 2024 Olympic Games in Lille and Paris, Kevin Durant has solidified his role as an indispensable player for Team USA, despite not starting in any of the group stage games. Durant's journey to the Olympics was marked by a significant hamstring injury that kept him sidelined during all five of the United States' exhibition games. His absence in the preparatory phase necessitated a shift in strategy for Head Coach Steve Kerr, who originally planned for Durant to be a starter.
“I think if Kevin had been here from Day 1, chances are he would be starting. That was the plan coming in,” Kerr said candidly. “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.”
Despite the late start, Durant’s presence on the court has had a remarkable impact. Ease and efficiency define his performances, including averaging 19.2 minutes during group play.
Against Serbia, he played 17 minutes; against South Sudan, 22 minutes; and against Puerto Rico, 19 minutes. Alongside Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis, Durant forms a formidable second unit that has excelled defensively.
The defensive prowess of the unit, particularly the combination of Durant, Adebayo, and Davis, enables versatile switching without compromising rim protection. This strategy has proven effective, as evidenced by Team USA maintaining a lead of at least 11 points throughout the fourth quarters in each group stage game.
“I told Coach, whatever he needs from me, I'm willing to do anything and adapt to anything,” Durant stated. “It's basketball. It really doesn't matter who starts. It's about really who finishes 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.”
Remarkably, no player on the Team USA roster has logged more than 27 minutes in any single game so far. LeBron James tops the chart with an average of 21.8 minutes per game. The balance in playing time showcases Kerr's strategy to keep his players well-rested and ready for the more grueling matchups ahead.
“There are no plans on changing that,” Kerr emphasized, referring to Durant's role coming off the bench. “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.”
One of Durant's teammates, Anthony Edwards, expressed his enthusiasm about playing alongside the NBA superstar. “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.”
As Team USA prepares for the knockout stages, the depth and versatility of the squad, combined with Durant’s willingness to adapt, serve as promising indicators of potential success. Coach Kerr remains vigilant about the challenges ahead, acknowledging the complexity of upcoming opponents. “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,” he noted.
Durant's experience, along with his seamless integration into the team, bodes well for Team USA's chances as the competition intensifies. Whether coming off the bench or eventually stepping into a starting role, Durant's contributions will remain crucial to the team’s quest for Olympic gold.