Kevin Durant: A Bench Asset Turned Pivotal Player for Team USA
Kevin Durant has long been a cornerstone of American basketball, and his performance at the 2024 Olympics in Lille and Paris has validated that once again. Despite coming off the bench in all three group stage games, Durant has solidified his status as an indispensable asset for Team USA.
The road to these Olympics wasn't without its hurdles for Durant. He missed all five of the United States' exhibition games due to a hamstring injury, a setback that inevitably altered Team USA’s lineup strategy. Originally, Head Coach Steve Kerr planned for Durant to be a starter. However, his absence during the preparatory phase necessitated a different approach.
“I think if Kevin had been here from Day 1, chances are he would be starting. That was the plan coming in,” Kerr revealed. “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.”
Integrating seamlessly upon his return, Durant has managed to make a significant impact on the tournament. Averaging 19.2 minutes during group play, his presence has been felt in every aspect of the game. He logged 17 minutes against Serbia, 22 minutes against South Sudan, and 19 minutes against Puerto Rico. Durant's contributions have been instrumental, whether he’s been scoring, defending, or facilitating plays, proving his effectiveness regardless of his role on the court.
Durant's adaptability has been a remarkable aspect of his resurgence. “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 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.
One of the surprising shifts has been the formidable formation of the second unit, which includes Durant alongside Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis. This lineup has been particularly effective on the defensive end. Their versatility allows for seamless switches without compromising on rim protection. As a result, Team USA has led by at least 11 points throughout the fourth quarters in each of their group stage games, demonstrating their defensive prowess.
Steve Kerr commended this defensive unit, saying, “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.” With this setup, no player on the roster has logged more than 27 minutes in any single game so far, and LeBron James leads the team with an average of 21.8 minutes per game.
Anthony Edwards, another prominent member of the second unit, has expressed admiration for Durant’s current role. “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.
As the tournament advances and matches become more challenging, Coach Kerr anticipates relying more heavily on Durant. “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 noted.
Durant's journey through the 2024 Olympics highlights not just his skill but his resilience and adaptability. Coming off the bench, he has embraced and excelled in his role, reminding the basketball world of his relentless work ethic and versatile talent. As Team USA looks to build on their strong group stage performance, having a player of Durant's caliber, whether starting or coming off the bench, is an asset any coach would envy.