Kevin Durant is unlikely to suit up when his country begins its pursuit of a fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Durant, the all-time leading scorer in Olympic history, sat out all five of Team USA’s tune-up games with a calf strain, including Monday’s 92-88 victory over Germany.
After the game, Team USA coach Steve Kerr revealed he met with Durant earlier on Monday and they jointly decided to hold him out of the final exhibition game.
Kerr expressed optimism that the former Warriors star would eventually join Team USA and even shot down the idea of USAB sending a replacement to Paris for the injured Durant.
“I think [Team USA] gonna be playing Serbia without Kevin Durant… Steve Kerr met with him today and they decided he needs more time with that strained calf…”
Brian Windhorst has troubling news on KD 👀 #NBA #NBAX #USABMNT
— CourtSideHeat (@courtsideheat) July 23, 2024
Despite Kerr’s encouraging words, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported late Monday that all signs point to Durant sitting out Team USA’s opener against Serbia on Sunday, July 28.
“They really were hoping that he’d be able to play one of these [exhibition] games in London,” Windhorst told “SportsCenter.” “…Obviously, they’re going to be very cautious here. They believe he will be able to play, but the hopes are dim for him to play against Serbia.”
Steve Kerr says there is “no thought” about not bringing Kevin Durant to Paris, but the team wants him to go through multiple practices before returning.
Reporter asked if there’s concern about integrating KD mid-Olympics.
Jrue Holiday: “No… That’s Kevin Durant, my boy.” pic.twitter.com/t0NftDHN9X
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) July 22, 2024
Team USA has until Saturday to turn in the final 12-man roster to the International Olympic Committee. As such, there is still the possibility of USAB sending a last-minute replacement for Durant.
In Durant’s absence, Kerr has been using different combinations of starting lineups, with only Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Joel Embiid being permanent fixtures. However, he used the same five against South Sudan and Germany when Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker took the other starter spots.