Team USA’s Kevin Durant will be in the starting lineup for the clash against France in the Paris 2024 Olympic Men’s Basketball Final today, Saturday, August 10.
Durant came off the bench in the last two games, against Brazil in the quarterfinals and Serbia in the semifinals, playing a pivotal role in helping his team win.
Also Read: Paris 2024: Tobi Blow Ends Team Nigeria’s Medal Hopes
For the final against the host nation, The Athletic hinted that Durant will be in the USA’s starting lineup, indicating that Jrue Holiday, who started the last two games, will come off the bench later in the final.
This decision follows Durant’s impressive performance in the semifinals., the 14-time NBA All-Star player, played a significant role in Team USA’s comeback victory against Serbia in the semifinals.
Despite starting on the bench, Durant contributed 9 points, with 7 of those coming in the crucial fourth quarter. His performance helped the United States overcome a 17-point deficit to secure a 95-91 win. Durant also added three rebounds and one assist during his 24 minutes on the court.
He recently surpassed Lisa Leslie to become the all-time leading scorer for USA Basketball in the Olympics, entering Saturday’s game with 503 points.
Through the Paris Games, Durant is averaging 13.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 20.5 minutes per game.
Jrue Holiday, known for his defensive prowess, has been averaging 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 18.9 minutes per game during the tournament.
While he did not start in the group-stage game against Puerto Rico, Holiday has been one of the key players in the other games alongside stars like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker.
By Dotun Omisakin
