Kevin Durant's Impactful Return Boosts Team USA in 2024 Olympics
In the journey of Team USA through the group stages of the 2024 Olympics in Lille and Paris, Kevin Durant has proven to be a pivotal asset despite a rocky start to his Olympic campaign. Durant, who missed all five of the United States' exhibition games owing to a hamstring injury, has come off the bench to make a significant impact in all three group stage games.
Durant's performance has been a crucial factor for Team USA, even as Head Coach Steve Kerr had initially planned for him to start. “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,” said Kerr.
Despite coming off the bench, Durant's presence has been undeniably felt. Averaging 19.2 minutes during group play, Durant posted game times of 17 minutes against Serbia, 22 minutes against South Sudan, and 19 minutes against Puerto Rico. His impactful play has helped Team USA maintain a commanding lead throughout the fourth quarters of each group stage game, with no player on the roster logging more than 27 minutes in any single game thus far. LeBron James tops the chart with an average of 21.8 minutes per game.
Durant’s versatility and ability to adapt have been on full display. When asked about his role, Durant's response underscored his team-first mentality. “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.
The tactical adjustment has also been beneficial for one of the team’s rising stars, Anthony Edwards. Enthusiastic about the opportunity to play alongside Durant, Edwards remarked, “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.”
The dynamic second unit featuring Durant, Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis has been formidable, particularly on the defensive end. The trio of Durant, Adebayo, and Davis has provided a versatile defense capable of switching without sacrificing rim protection. This defensive strength has been instrumental in maintaining Team USA’s dominance throughout the group stages.
Looking ahead, Coach Kerr hinted at the increasing importance of Durant’s role 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 said.
As Team USA prepares for their next challenge, Kerr acknowledged the difficulty of the road ahead and the need for preparation. “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. The physicality and intensity are expected to ramp up, requiring an even stronger reliance on key players like Durant.
With Durants's commitment, adaptability, and proven performance, Team USA finds itself well-positioned for the knockout stages of the Olympics. The seamless integration and impactful contributions of Durant will likely continue to be a linchpin in their quest for gold, underscoring why he remains an irreplaceable asset to the team.