USA Will Start Two Suns in Gold Medal Final

The Phoenix Suns will see two of their own start in the most pivotal game of the USA's Olympic run.

Mar 27, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports | Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

On the world's biggest stage - in the gold medal game against France - Team USA will rely on two Phoenix Suns stars in the starting lineup.

United States head coach Steve Kerr is now injecting Kevin Durant into the starting lineup, as first reported by NBA insider Shams Charania. This puts him next to fellow Suns star Devin Booker and other names such as Steph Curry and LeBron James.

🇺🇸 #USABMNT Gold Medal Game starting five 👇

📺 NBC + Peacock#Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/veEk280ldE

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024

"Team USA is planning to start all-time leading scorer Kevin Durant against France during Saturday’s gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic on Friday, " wrote Charania.

"Jrue Holiday is expected to come off the bench for the United States, those sources said."

This will be Durant's first start of the tournament after some had initially thought he might have not made it to Paris. Durant suffered a mild calf strain that saw him miss all five of Team USA's exhibition matchups.

Durant played in Team USA's group stage games coming off the bench and made his impact early on.

USA head coach Steve Kerr - who also coached Durant to two NBA Finals titles with the Golden State Warriors - said Durant probably would have started previously if he didn't get hurt.

"If Kevin had been here from Day 1, chances are he'd be starting," said Kerr.

"That was the plan coming in. But given that he missed all of our friendlies and came in late, we had kind of established a lineup that we liked. When we brought him back, he was only going to play a certain amount of minutes against Serbia. And he played so well and he fit so well with that group, and it was devastating to see that group together."

Now, he gets the nod with a gold medal on the line. This would be Durant's fourth Olympic gold medal.

As for Booker, he's been a staple for Kerr throughout the USA's run to the final. Kerr said the Suns' shooting guard has adapted the best to his role on a team full of stars.

“He’s probably the guy who has been the most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here. He’s adapted to being an on-ball guy, ball mover. The offense clicks when he’s out there, the defense is really good," Kerr said previously.

This would be Booker's second gold medal.

USA vs France is set for a 12:30 PM tip (Arizona time) today.