Kevin Durant and Team USA ultimately lived up to expectations at the Tokyo Olympics, capturing gold on Friday night after beating France 87-82 in a very tightly contested affair. But the real question is, would the States have won it all if Durant wasn't on fire offensively? The answer is no.
KD was outstanding. He averaged 20.6 points in the tournament, which led the US. The Nets star stepped up heavily when it mattered most too, dropping 29 in the final against France. But, we can't forget the other superstars on this roster aside from Kevin Durant. Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, and Jayson Tatum, among others, are all capable. However, basically none of them did in Tokyo. The next leading scorer was Tatum with just under 15 points per contest. Booker was absolutely drained from a long playoff run to the NBA Finals, while Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton were also exhausted after winning a title.
It's a roster of stars, yes. But Kevin Durant was fresh after getting knocked out in the conference semifinals and he had another point to prove on the international stage, taking home his third Olympic gold medal. In the process, KD became the leading scorer in Team USA history, surpassing Carmelo Anthony. He was the veteran presence on Gregg Popovich's squad and was always going to be the one who rose to the occasion and willed this team to glory.
His last four games of Tokyo are a perfect example. Kevin Durant started off with two 10-point performances, although it didn't matter in the second because they played Iran. But following that massive win, Durant put the USA on his back, dropping 20+ in the most important contests of the entire tournament against some tough opponents like Spain, Australia, and France. The plan ultimately seemed to be this: get the ball in KD's hands and let him work his magic. He took far more shots than any other player on the USA roster.
After all, Kevin Durant was the most experienced Olympic player among the superstars. He rose above and delivered. Without him doing so, the gold would likely be around another team's necks right now. Probably, France.
You have Durant to thank, Team USA.
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