This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The USA men’s Olympic basketball team took to the practice court Saturday without Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, who continues to nurse a calf injury.
Now training in Abu Dhabi in advance of exhibition games against Australia (Monday) and Serbia (Wednesday), Team USA isn’t in panic mode over Durant being sidelined.
Coach Steve Kerr told reporters Saturday that Durant would do individual work during the practice.
This week, the U.S. squad replaced Kawhi Leonard with Derrick White because of injury, with White on standby for such a move. Kerr said there is no similar Plan B for Durant.
“I know there’s still a couple of weeks before we have to make a decision roster-wise, so we’re just taking it day by day,” he said.
“It’s not something we’ve even discussed at this point,” Kerr said of a contingency plan for Durant. “Because we feel good that he’s going to be OK. It’s just day to day.”
Durant, 35, has won three gold medals and is one of the greats in U.S. Olympic basketball history.
He leads Americans all-time in points (435), points per game (19.8), field goals (146), 3-point field goals (74) and free throws (69). He also ranks third in rebounds (118) and blocks (16) and fourth in games played (24) and assists (71).
In the past three Olympics, he has led the tournament in points averaged per game: 20.7 (2020, Tokyo), 19.5 (2012, London) and 19.4 (2016, Rio de Janeiro).
The Americans, vying for a fifth consecutive gold medal, open pool play at the Paris Olympics on July 28 against Serbia, followed by games against South Sudan (July 31) and Puerto Rico (Aug. 3).
–Field Level Media
