Only three players are fixtures in Team USA starting unit

Through Team USA's three exhibition games thus far — against Canada, Australia and Serbia — the only constants in the starting lineup have been LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid. And Team USA coach Steve Kerr plans to stick to the formula entering the 2024 Paris Olympics.

After the 105-79 win over Serbia on Wednesday, Kerr confirmed that the remaining two starting spots will change on a game-to-game basis, as has been the case thus far.

"I like those three guys in the starting lineup," Kerr told reporters . "We've been looking at other guys around them [Embiid, Curry and James] and we obviously have a lot of great options. But I do like those three as starters."

Kerr started Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday in the first exhibition game against Canada before going with Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards in the tie versus Australia. Against Serbia, he retained Tatum and brought back Holiday to bolster the backcourt defense.

Several analysts have urged Kerr to start Anthony Davis , arguably Team USA's best player through the three games, over Embiid for defensive purposes. The Lakers star is more versatile on the defensive end and has proved to be a better rim protector than Embiid thus far.

On Wednesday, for example, Davis changed the complexion of the game in the second half after Nikola Jokic's Serbia feasted in the paint in the early going. Davis would finish with six blocks along with seven points and six boards.

Bam Adebayo has also been a force defensively every time he's been called upon. During Wednesday's game, Kerr played Adebayo and Davis together in stretches and the plan worked to perfection.

"Bam and AD together are really something," Kerr said . "The switching, they can also protect the rim and be in a drop if we go to that coverage. Combined with the ball pressure Book [Booker] was putting on their point guard, I thought it really set a tone for us."

Regardless of who joins Embiid, Curry and James in the starting unit, Kerr has a good problem on his hands. Kevin Durant, currently nursing a calf strain, will give him another option when he returns to the court.

Team USA will play two more tune-up games against South Sudan on July 20 and Germany on July 22, both in London, before traveling to France for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The campaign for a fifth consecutive gold medal begins with a game against Serbia on July 28.