**Kevin Durant Misses Another Team USA Practice, But Steve Kerr Remains Unconcerned**
Durant sidelined again with calf injury
Kerr confident: ‘We feel good that he’s going to be OK’
USA’s bid for fifth straight Olympic gold begins on 28 July
Reuters
The USA men’s Olympic basketball team practiced without Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant on Saturday, as he continues to nurse a calf injury.
Currently training in Abu Dhabi in preparation for exhibition games against Australia (Monday) and Serbia (Wednesday), Team USA remains calm about Durant’s absence from practice.
Coach Steve Kerr informed reporters that Durant would focus on individual work during practice.
Earlier this week, Kawhi Leonard was replaced by Derrick White due to injury, with White being on standby for such a move. Kerr mentioned that there is no equivalent backup plan for Durant.
“We still have a couple of weeks before we need to make a roster decision, so we’re taking it day by day,” Kerr stated.
“We haven’t even discussed a contingency plan for Durant because we feel good about his recovery. It’s just day to day.”
Durant, 35, has secured three gold medals and is considered one of the greatest players in US Olympic basketball history. He holds records for most points (435), points per game (19.8), field goals (146), 3-point field goals (74), and free throws (69) for Team USA. 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 led the tournament in average points per game: 20.7 (2020, Tokyo), 19.5 (2012, London), and 19.4 (2016, Rio de Janeiro).
The Americans, aiming for a fifth consecutive gold medal, will begin pool play at the Paris Olympics on 28 July against Serbia, followed by games against South Sudan (31 July) and Puerto Rico (3 August).