Kevin Durant's Role Evolution with Team USA in 2024 Olympics
In the 2024 Olympics, Kevin Durant has proven to be a pivotal asset for Team USA, even as he adapts to a role that might surprise many—a bench player. Despite coming off the bench in all three group stage games during the tournaments in Lille and Paris, Durant's impact has been unmistakable.
Durant missed all five of the United States' exhibition games due to a hamstring injury, necessitating a strategic shift from Head Coach Steve Kerr. Kerr had initially planned for Durant to start, but Durant's absence during the preparatory phase altered those plans. “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,” Kerr said.
Upon his return, Durant seamlessly fit into the second unit, which features Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, and Anthony Davis. This unit has been particularly formidable on the defensive end, thanks to the versatility of Durant, Adebayo, and Davis. Their ability to switch defenses without sacrificing rim protection has provided Team USA with a significant strategic advantage. The team has led by at least 11 points throughout the fourth quarters in each group stage game.
Durant's humility and team-first mindset have been evident in his approach to his role. “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 expressed.
Durant's playing time has been carefully managed, averaging 19.2 minutes during group play, including 17 minutes against Serbia, 22 minutes against South Sudan, and 19 minutes against Puerto Rico. Despite this limited playing time, Durant has made his presence felt, both on the stat sheet and in the chemistry of the second unit. No player on the Team USA 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.
Anthony Edwards spoke highly of Durant’s role off the bench, noting, “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.”
As the tournament progresses, there are no immediate plans to alter Durant's role. However, Kerr hinted that Durant's minutes might increase as the competition intensifies. “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.”
Team USA’s strategy has necessitated not only individual sacrifices but also a collective buy-in from all players involved. Kerr praised the togetherness and work ethic of his squad. “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.”
Ultimately, Durant's willingness to adapt has become one of the defining factors for Team USA's success in this Olympic journey. His performance and the cohesion of the second unit serve as a testament to the depth and flexibility of a team aiming for gold, undeterred by the evolving roles of its superstars.