Kevin Durant's Role Shifts, But Impact Remains for Team USA
In the intense basketball landscape of the 2024 Olympics in Lille and Paris, Kevin Durant has emerged as a vital cog for Team USA, even from a bench role.
Durant's journey to these games wasn't without hurdles. A hamstring injury sidelined him through all five of Team USA's exhibition games, forcing Head Coach Steve Kerr to pivot from his initial plan of starting the NBA star. “I think if Kevin had been here from Day 1, chances are he would be starting. That was the plan coming in,” Kerr admitted. “But, given that he missed all of our friendlies and came in late, we had kind of established a lineup that we liked.”
Despite the late start, Durant's contributions have been nothing short of remarkable. Coming off the bench, he has offered crucial minutes and fits seamlessly into a rotation that has shown formidable defensive capabilities. In group stage play, Durant averaged 19.2 minutes per game, an efficient stretch given his injury history and the strategic need to conserve players' energy.
Durant's game minutes have varied, playing 17 minutes against Serbia, 22 against South Sudan, and 19 against Puerto Rico. His presence alongside Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis has proved particularly effective on the defensive end, allowing Team USA to maintain its dominance. “The defensive unit of Durant, Adebayo, and Davis allows for versatile switching without sacrificing rim protection,” noted analysts observing the team’s strategic setup.
Team USA's depth and strategic flexibility have been emphasized throughout the group stage. Not a single player has logged more than 27 minutes in any game, with LeBron James leading the team at 21.8 minutes per game on average. This spread of playing time underlines Kerr's strategy of keeping his lineup fresh for the rigorous knockout stages.
Coach Kerr has indicated that Durant's role, while starting off the bench, is critical, and his minutes are expected to increase as the tournament progresses. “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,” Kerr added, appreciating the luxury of calling upon one of basketball’s elite scorers as a sixth man.
Durant himself has embraced the team-oriented approach, showcasing the maturity and adaptability that define his illustrious career. “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 said, emphasizing a perspective focused on collective success over individual accolades.
This sentiment is echoed by Anthony Edwards, who relishes the opportunity to share the court with 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,” Edwards enthused.
Team USA has maintained a steady control in their group stage matches, leading by at least 11 points throughout the fourth quarters. Such dominance speaks volumes of the depth and quality within the squad. Yet, as Kerr wisely cautions, "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.”
The forthcoming stages of the Olympics promise heightened competition, and as the pressure mounts, Durant's role is expected to become even more critical. With every game, Team USA aims to solidify its path to gold, buoyed by the contributions of all its stars, whether they start or come off the bench.