The USA Team selected all the star players for the Paris Olympics, which ultimately made it difficult for them to prepare the roster. As there are only five spots for the starting lineup, upsetting the basketball community by not including the ones they were expecting is quite natural. When the roster for the pre-Olympics exhibition game was disclosed, the fans were stunned to not find Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum’s names on it.
The head coach Steve Kerr selected Steph Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Joel Embiid as the starters for the game against Canada at the T-Mobile Arena. While Durant and an excited Tatum remained on the bench on Wednesday night.
By leaving the two outstanding scorers out for the game, the USAB Team’s organization amazed the basketball lovers. The fans gathered on social media X (FKA Twitter) to express their disappointment about not seeing Durant and Tatum in the first game.
An astonished fan wrote, “Holiday over Tatum” with an emoji to show his emotion.
While another mockingly added, “Tatum getting his chain snatched by another teammate”.
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“Booker over Tatum is madness”, commented one fan.
“Starting Lineup should’ve been Curry, Book (or Ant), Tatum (would’ve been kd but he’s out), Lebron, Embiid”, shared an X user.
Shocked by the decision, a fan asked, “Jrue Holiday over kevin Durant?”
Someone pointed out, “Leading USA Scorer Durant not starting is wild”.
Whereas, another fan stated, “KD ON THE BENCH THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY WIN”.
Though the decision to bench Durant surprised the fans, an NBA legend believed that the Suns’ star shouldn’t be in the starting line up.
NBA Legend Believes Kevin Durant Should Come Off the Bench
Team USA includes both veteran superstars who have maintained their supremacy for years and youngsters currently playing at the top level. The former NBA player Carmelo Anthony chose the latter as his starting five.
When asked to name the ones he would’ve played if he was in Steve Kerr’s place, Carmelo named the veterans first and then quickly flipped his answer. The 40-year-old stated that he would start with the young ones and then bring the more experienced ones like Kevin Durant, LeBron, Holiday, Embiid and Curry off the bench.
However, Kerr definitely didn’t align with Carmelo and went with most of the veterans, but Durant was missing out. Even after giving his best for years in the USA jersey, Durant didn’t get an opportunity to show up. Though it’s just an exhibition game and the main tournament is still left where the All-Star forward can display his exceptional skills.
