Abu Dhabi: USA men's basketball team head coach Steve Kerr has downplayed Kevin Durant's calf injury that has kept the three-time Olympic gold medallist 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 (July 15) and Serbia (July 17) as they ramp up their preparations 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 practise with the team today, he'll continue to do individual work," Kerr told reporters in the UAE capital on Saturday. "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.
"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." USA Basketball have put together a 'super-team' for these 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 they have already had to make a replacement in the squad, bringing in a third Celtic, in Derrick White, to take the.