Kevin Durant's Impact on Team USA's Olympic Journey
In the unfolding drama of the 2024 Olympics in Lille and Paris, Kevin Durant has proven to be a crucial force for Team USA, even as he adapts to a dynamic role off the bench. Despite missing all five of the United States' exhibition games due to a hamstring injury, Durant's return has been nothing short of impactful.
Durant’s absence during the preparatory phase necessitated a strategic shift. Head Coach Steve Kerr initially envisioned Durant as a starter. Yet, the unforeseen injury led to a recalibrated lineup. “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,” said Kerr. “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.”
Since his return, Durant has seamlessly integrated into the team, averaging 19.2 minutes during group play. His time on the court has been carefully managed, logging 17 minutes against Serbia, 22 minutes against South Sudan, and 19 minutes against Puerto Rico. The strategy has paid dividends, allowing Durant to make an immediate and significant impact, while also preserving his health for the more challenging phases of the tournament.
Durant’s role coming off the bench has fortified a second unit that has been particularly formidable on the defensive end. Alongside Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis, Durant has contributed to a system that emphasizes versatile switching without compromising rim protection. This defensive prowess has been evident as Team USA has maintained leads of at least 11 points throughout the fourth quarters in each group stage game.
“There's no plans on changing that,” Kerr confirmed regarding Durant’s role. “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.”
Durant himself has embraced this role with the maturity and adaptability befitting a seasoned professional. “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 finishes the game, who puts 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 stated.
For fellow teammate Anthony Edwards, Durant's bench role has been an added bonus. “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.”
Indeed, the cohesion and chemistry of this second unit have been instrumental to Team USA’s success. No player on the roster has logged more than 27 minutes in any single game thus far, with LeBron James leading the team with an average of 21.8 minutes per game. This balanced distribution of playing time has kept the team fresh and formidable, ready to face the rigorous challenges ahead.
Looking toward the knockout stages, Kerr remains vigilant about the threats posed by 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,” Kerr emphasized.
As the tournament progresses, Durant’s role is expected to expand, leaning on his extensive experience and undeniable talent to steer Team USA through tougher competition. His presence, whether coming off the bench or playing extended minutes, continues to be a cornerstone of the team’s strategy and success.