From a talent and skill standpoint, the United States men's national basketball team is so stacked that they can afford to bring their program's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Kevin Durant , off the bench.
According to Team USA head coach Steve Kerr , that designation will remain the same even as the team enters the knockout stage of the Olympic basketball tournament, beginning with a quarterfinal showdown against Brazil on Tuesday.
KD's injury woes
Durant, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, was unable to participate in the team's training camp and five tuneup matches as he recovered from a calf strain. Kerr revealed that had he been able to do so, he would likely be part of the team's starting lineup.
"If Kevin had been here from Day 1, chances are he'd 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," the NBA sharpshooter turned coach revealed in a conference call on Sunday.
The "Slim Reaper" returned to Team USA's lineup in their first game in the 2024 Summer Games versus Serbia, albeit in a reserve role. His presence significantly bolstered the second unit, featuring Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis. KD didn't miss a beat, tallying 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting, showcasing his ability to make an immediate impact off the bench.
"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, and it was devastating to see that group together," Steve said.
Related: “This motherf***** didn’t speak up"- Coach K on waiting for LeBron to speak to the group during the Redeem Team's first meeting
Not changing the starting lineup
Kerr's recent decisions regarding Team USA's starting lineups in the group stage have led to significant discussions and, at times, outrage.
Against Serbia, Steve elected not to play Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum. He followed that up by benching Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid in the game against South Sudan. However, a lineup change he won't be making soon is putting KD, a 14-time All-Star, in the starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Jrue Holiday, and Stephen Curry.
"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," Steve stressed.
Durant himself said he has no qualms about not starting, telling ESPN , "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."
Team USA was dominant in the group stage, winning by an average margin of 21 points. However, their resolve will be tested more this week as the competition's knockout stages commence. Fortunately for the Americans, they have a wealth of talent and experience on their roster, with 11 All-Stars, including Durant, who can take over a game but is content with being a team player for now.
Related: Steve Kerr on why Devin Booker has started every game for Team USA: "He's probably been the guy who's been most adaptable"
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