USA Basketball head coach Steve Kerr has had to make some tough decisions through two games at the Paris Olympics. In Team USA’s Olympic opener against Serbia, Kerr didn’t play Jayson Tatum at all, but he started the Boston Celtics star against South Sudan. Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was a DNP against South Sudan.
Kerr’s rotation choices became even more challenging once Kevin Durant returned from injury, as the Phoenix Suns star was guaranteed playing time. Despite this, Durant has come off the bench in both games he’s played this summer, which the two-time Finals MVP says he’s fine with.
“It’s basketball; it really doesn’t matter who starts,” Durant said, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “It’s about who finishes the game and who makes an impact while they’re in. So I just try to do my best to impact it any way I can.”
Dream Team coach Chuck Daly utilized six different starting lineups, with Michael Jordan being the only player to start every game.
Windhorst mentioned that Durant stated he is okay with coming off the bench for the entire run if that’s what Kerr prefers.
Durant, who played three seasons under Kerr with the Golden State Warriors and earned Finals MVP awards in 2017 and 2018, is now back with Kerr in Paris for the Olympics. He is ready to fulfill any role, even if it means coming off the bench.
