One key Kevin Durant stat that will worry opposition teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics
With Kevin Durant, Team USA will remain the unquestioned favorite to win the basketball gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. If KD’s calf refuses to cooperate, Steve Kerr still has Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and other NBA superstars to count on. Durant, though, is a serial winner in the quadrennial games and a walking mismatch, so his availability will be crucial for the Americans.
Kerr’s roster lacks continuity, making chemistry a bit of an issue. Only Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton were brought back from the team that competed in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Curry is making his Olympic debut while James hasn’t played since the 2012 Summer Games in London.
Having Kevin Durant, Team USA’s all-time points leader in the Olympics, will be a big boost. If he’s healthy, he will unquestionably play a key role for the Americans.
One key stat Team USA opponents will be wary about Kevin Durant
NBA.com’s John Schuhmann had this to say about the Phoenix Suns superstar:
“Durant is the only player who scored at least 400 points on drives, 400 points on catch-and-shoot jumpers and 400 points on pull-up jumpers last season.”
Kevin Durant’s impressive scoring ability is well known. He is a four-time scoring champ. The former MVP also paced the playoffs in the same category five times in his career. More than just the total points, it is his efficiency that really blows the mind.
Last season, Durant hit 53.8% of his drives to the rim. He had a 47.8% clip when shooting after catching the ball. KD’s pull-up jumpers were just as deadly, making 46.4% of his attempts.
As difficult as Kevin Durant was to contain in the NBA, he might even be tougher to stop in the Olympics. The Suns had Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen to give him space. In Paris, he will have Booker, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and Tyrese Haliburton to keep defenses honest.
Defending the “Slim Reaper,” considering the weapons around him, will be a nightmare for Team USA’s opponents.
Kevin Durant could still play in the Olympics
Team USA went 5-0 over the last few weeks in exhibition games without Kevin Durant. Three of those games were not decided until the last minute. In the case against South Sudan, it took a late layup from LeBron James and a key defensive stop to win 101-100. Steve Kerr can certainly make use of Durant in Paris.
Kerr talked to reporters and had this to say about KD’s status:
"We will do some live stuff (Thursday), so the plan is for him to get in the scrimmage and see how he handles that. But yeah, he looked good (Wednesday), and he did everything and got a lot of shots up and told me he's feeling pretty good."
The Americans will open their Olympic campaign with a showdown against Serbia on Sunday. Team USA won 105-79 in its tune-up game versus Nikola Jokic and Co. ten days ago. The gold medal favorites expect a much better performance from the 2023 FIBA World Cup silver medalists the next time they meet.
Team USA fans are hoping the "Slim Reaper" will eventually play in the Olympics.