Kevin Durant will start for Team USA in the Olympic men's basketball final against France, while Jrue Holiday is expected to come off the bench. This decision follows Durant's crucial performance in the semifinals.
Team USA has decided to start Kevin Durant, their all-time leading scorer, in the gold medal game against France at the Paris Olympics.
The game, set for Saturday, will see Durant in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in previous matches.
The Athletic revealed this information on Friday, indicating that Jrue Holiday, who started in the last two games, will come off the bench in the final.
Durant, a 14-time NBA All-Star, 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 players in the other games alongside stars like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker.
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