USA coach downplays Durant's calf injury

ABU DHABI — USA men's basketball team head coach Steve Kerr has downplayed the calf injury that has kept the three-time Olympic gold medalist Kevin Durant from training with the group ahead of the Paris Games.

Team USA touched down in Abu Dhabi on Friday ahead of two scheduled exhibition games against Australia and Serbia this week, as it ramps up its preparation for the Olympics.

Durant, who suffered a calf strain two weeks ago, was present at Saturday's session at the NYU Abu Dhabi campus, but once again did not join his teammates in practice.

Kerr remains unconcerned, though, and says they have not discussed any contingency plans to replace the Phoenix Suns forward on the roster.

"He won't practice with the team today, he'll continue to do individual work," Kerr told reporters in the UAE capital on Saturday.

"I know there are still a couple of weeks before we have to make a decision roster-wise, so we're just taking it day by day.

"It's not something we've even discussed at this point," Kerr said when asked about a back-up plan. "Because we feel good that he's going to be okay, it's just day to day."

'True leader'

USA Basketball has put together a "super-team" for the upcoming Olympic Games that includes LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Durant, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, and recently crowned NBA champions Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics.

But it has already had to make a replacement in the squad, bringing in a third Celtic, Derrick White, to take the spot of Kawhi Leonard, who left the training camp in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

The USA team is playing five friendly games in the build-up to Paris, the first of which saw it defeat Canada 86-72 on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, fouled out midway through the third quarter, but Kerr is certain the Philadelphia 76ers center will be up to the task at the Olympics.

"Joel will be fine. He's going to get into the rhythm and the flow," he assured. "It always takes big guys a little bit longer to get into flow in training."

James is playing under Kerr for the first time in his career, and described the Golden State Warriors coach as a "true leader and true student of the game".

Chasing a third Olympic gold medal and fourth overall, James, 39, is the oldest player on the roster.

Donning a USA jersey for the first time in 12 years, James is keen to share his experience with the younger players on the team, especially knowing that this will be his final Games.

"It's always a responsibility that you should hold with honor and be able to give back to the younger generation, because they have to keep going when we're done," said James.

"So, it's definitely a responsibility for myself, KD, and Steph to be able to just show them the ropes."

Boasting the most decorated and star-studded squad since the fabled 1992 "Dream Team", USA is gunning for a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal and 16th title at the Games overall.

After completing its exhibition games schedule in Abu Dhabi and London, the USA will kick off its Olympic title defense against its Group C rival Serbia in Lille on July 28, before facing South Sudan on July 31 and Puerto Rico on Aug 3.

AFP