VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ – VILLENEUVE-D’The question was apt but also a bit surprising for Stephen Curry to consider.

Could one imagine a scenario in which Kevin Durant, who shone in the U.S. men’s basketball team’s Olympic opening victory over Serbia, continues to come off the bench?

“We talk about Kevin Durant as a sixth man,” Curry replied. “That shows how good this team can be.”

There were plenty of highlights for the U.S. in the win over Serbia. LeBron James impressed with his signature one-handed dunks and celebratory stretches, while Durant had a near-flawless shooting night in his first official basketball game in two months after a calf strain.

And everyone who played scored.

That’s because Jayson Tatum, the NBA’s highest-paid player, and Tyrese Haliburton, who recently signed a franchise-record contract, were both out.

It showcases an embarrassment of riches for a team still figuring out how to best utilize its talent.

“We’re still trying to establish an identity with this group of 12, who we are,” Curry said. “It’s important to focus on how we do it, not just getting a win.”

Coach Steve Kerr said it was nearly impossible to give all 12 players enough playing time in a 40-minute match, and the idea of ​​Tatum in particular being benched seemed incomprehensible to him.

“It seems crazy. I thought I was crazy when I looked at everything and decided these were the lineups I wanted to get to. Jayson’s first team All-NBA three years in a row. He’s one of the best players in the world.”

So good, in fact, that Kerr said Monday that Tatum will play in Wednesday’s game against South Sudan.

Complicating Kerr’s decision-making going forward is that Durant’s contributions off the bench continue a trend that began during the exhibition portion of the Olympics, where the reserves provided the jolts needed for a team prone to slow starts and turnovers. Against Serbia, they had 17 total turnovers.

And that’s the result of trying to find the right rotations on a roster loaded with talent.

Curry even admitted he was nervous before making the Olympic team for the first time, which was evident when he was cut back several times on defense and once again lost the ball on the opening pass.

But he also thinks the answer to solving these problems is to not get into their heads.

“It’s just a matter of everybody being ready to do what you’re asked to do, because every game is going to be a little different,” Curry said. “You can pick any five of 12 guys and there’s a Hall of Fame roster there. We just have to play accordingly.”

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games