Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has dispelled fears that Kevin Durant would be unable to play in the Olympics despite the veteran having sat out all five of the team’s exhibition matches with a calf strain.
The 35-year-old suffered the injury whilst working out in the lead-up to the Olympics in June.
Kerr maintains that there is nothing to worry about in terms of his long-term availability.
“There’s no thought of replacing Kevin,” Kerr said.
“I was hoping he would get a game in here, but it just didn’t work out that way… He’s one of the most skilled players of all time. So, we hope he comes back soon, and I think he’ll fit right in.”
Kerr said he also hopes for Durant to have some contact and play in a scrimmage before returning which may put his availability for their Olympics opener against Serbia in some doubt.
It is set to mark Durant’s fourth consecutive Olympics with the 14-time NBA All-Star having helped Team USA secure gold on all three occasions and is also the country’s all-time leading Olympic scorer.
The Americans went 5-0 in their exhibition matches but were pushed to the brink by Australia, South Sudan, and Germany winning by a combined 11 points.
Durant is fresh off a year with Phoenix in which he averaged 27.1 pg, 6.6 rpg and 5.0 apg en route to an All-NBA 2nd Team nod.
