Anthony Edwards is a top scorer for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, averaging 16.7 points per game despite playing only 18 minutes. Meanwhile, the best USA lineup includes Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo at +23.
The best Team USA lineup includes only one starter, with two of their top scorers coming off the bench. After the group stage of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the stats highlight the current best performers on the USA national team.
Derrick White
| Team: |
Boston Celtics USA |
| Position: | PG |
| Age: | 30 |
| Height: | 196 cm |
| Weight: | 91 kg |
| Birth place: | United States of America |
While Team USA defeated their first three opponents at the Olympics by an average margin of 21.3 points, coach Steve Kerr faced significant criticism over his roster selections at the start of the Paris Games.
However, stats show that Kerr is on the right track, trusting the right personnel on the floor the most.
According to Instat, Team USA's most-used lineup has been also the best per +/- rating.
Derrick White, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo spent 20:08 on the floor together, and USA was +23 in 44 possessions.
Interestingly, Anthony Davis was the only starter in Team USA's lineup against South Sudan, highlighting just how effective the second unit has been.
Also, Boston Celtics' Derrick White was a last-minute addition to Team USA, stepping in after Kawhi Leonard's late withdrawal from the Olympic roster.
This lineup not only fits very well on the offensive end, shooting 61.3% from the field, including 46.7% from three but is also tough to beat defensively. During those 20:08, their opponents scored only 27 points on 26.3% field goal shooting, significantly struggling beyond the arc with just 12.5%.
Best Team USA lineups at Olympics basketball
| No. | Lineup | +/- | Time played |
| 1. | White, Edwards, Durant, Davis, Adebayo | +23 | 20:08 |
| 2. | Holiday, Curry, Booker, LeBron, Davis | +20 | 07:13 |
| 3. | Curry, Booker, Tatum, LeBron, Embiid | +12 | 16:58 |
Only Germany and Canada have showcased more efficient lineups in the tournament.
Canada's lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Dillon Brooks, RJ Barrett, and Dwight Powell was a standout, boasting a +28 rating in 24:46 of action.
They dominated their opponents 62-34, shooting 57.5% from the field while holding their rivals to just 28.1% shooting. Their perimeter defense was exceptional, limiting opponents to 17.6% from three-point range.
Germany also achieved a +28 rating, but over 40:18 of play, with a lineup featuring Dennis Schroder, Andreas Obst, Franz Wagner, Johannes Voigtmann, and Daniel Theis.
They outscored their opponents 95-67, shooting 51.4% from the field and restricting their opponents to 37.1% shooting. Unlike Canada, Germany's perimeter defense wasn't as strong (41.4% 3FG) compared to their solid interior defense (37.1% 2FG).
It's worth mentioning that Canada navigated through a challenging Group of Death featuring Greece, Australia, and Spain, experiencing fewer blowout games compared to Germany.
The second-best Team USA lineup includes Jrue Holiday, Steph Curry, Devin Booker, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, with a +20 in 07:13 on the floor. This lineup has been shooting extremely well, with a 70.6% field goal percentage.
Coach Kerr used a different starting five for each of the three games, but three players were always in the opening lineup: Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, and LeBron James. These three average the most minutes, even though the top scorer comes off the bench.
Anthony Edwards, who names himself as the No. 1 option on Team USA, leads with 16.7 points per game on 63.3% field goal shooting despite playing only 18 minutes per game.
Team USA top scorers at Olympics basketball
| No. | Player | Points per game |
| 1. | Anthony Edwards | 16.7 |
| 2. | Kevin Durant | 16.0 |
| 3. | LeBron James | 14.3 |
| 4. | Devin Booker | 10.3 |
| 5. | Jrue Holiday | 10.0 |
Kevin Durant follows with 16.0 points on 63.6% shooting, including 71.4% from three, in 19.2 minutes per game.
LeBron James averages 14.3 points on 64.3% shooting, though only 14.3% from three, and adds 6.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and a 21.0 efficiency rating, despite 4.3 turnovers per game.
Interestingly, Jayson Tatum leads the team in rebounds (7.5 RPG), followed by Anthony Davis (7.0 RPG), LeBron James (6.7 RPG), and Bam Adebayo (4.7 RPG).
Tatum is also in the top three in assists, with 2.5 assists per game, while Devin Booker ranks second, 4.3 behind LeBron (7.3 APG). Tatum, however, has played one game fewer than the rest.
Joel Embiid's case is interesting. Despite starting in two games, he has played the second-lowest minutes on Team USA, with 34 in total, mainly due to a DNP against South Sudan.
So far, he's averaging 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocked shots, and 2.5 turnovers in 17 minutes. Tyrese Haliburton is the 12th man on the roster, having played only 18 minutes in total.
The worst USA lineup included Derrick White, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo. They were -8 in 1:57 of action and scoreless during that stretch.
However, this lineup was used only once in the first quarter against Serbia.
Worst Team USA lineups at Olympics basketball
| No. | Lineup | +/- | Time played |
| 1. | White, Edwards, Booker, Davis, Adebayo | -8 | 01:57 |
| 2. | Holiday, Curry, Booker, LeBron, Embiid | -6 | 09:54 |
| 3. | Curry, Booker, Tatum, LeBron, Davis | -5 | 09:07 |
The third most-used lineup, featuring Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid, ranks as the second worst of all lineups, being outscored by 6 points in 9:54 of action.
The fourth most-used five, with Curry, Booker, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, was the third worst and was outscored by 5 points in 9:07 of play.
Team USA is facing Brazil on Tuesday in the Olympic quarterfinals.
Team USA stats at the Olympics basketball
| MIN | 2P M/A | 3P M/A | REB | AS | ST | TO | BS | PTS | EFF | |
| Stephen Curry | 20:06 | 3/6 (50%) | 5/19 (26.3%) | 3 2.7/0.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0 | 7.3 | 7 |
| Anthony Edwards | 17:59 | 12/17 (70.6%) | 7/13 (53.8%) | 3 2.3/0.7 | 1.7 | 2 | 2 | 0.3 | 16.7 | 16.3 |
| LeBron James | 21:50 | 17/21 (81%) | 1/7 (14.3%) | 6.7 5.7/1 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 14.3 | 21 |
| Kevin Durant | 19:11 | 4/8 (50%) | 10/14 (71.4%) | 2.7 2/0.7 | 2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0 | 16 | 17.7 |
| Derrick White | 18:16 | 2/2 (100%) | 3/7 (42.9%) | 1 1/0 | 1.3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4.7 | 8.3 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | 9:02 | 0/0 | 2/4 (50%) | 0 0/0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Jayson Tatum | 19:57 | 6/10 (60%) | 0/3 (0%) | 7.5 6/1.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 7 | 14 |
| Joel Embiid | 17:02 | 7/14 (50%) | 1/5 (20%) | 2.5 2.5/0 | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 9.5 | 5 |
| Jrue Holiday | 19:23 | 4/5 (80%) | 4/8 (50%) | 3 2.5/0.5 | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 10 | 12.5 |
| Bam Adebayo | 19:34 | 9/14 (64.3%) | 2/5 (40%) | 4.7 3.3/1.3 | 2 | 1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 8.3 | 12 |
| Anthony Davis | 17:45 | 10/17 (58.8%) | 0/0 | 7 5.3/1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 8.3 | 17 |
| Devin Booker | 21:41 | 6/12 (50%) | 5/9 (55.6%) | 2.3 0.7/1.7 | 4.3 | 1 | 0.7 | 0 | 10.3 | 14 |
