Kevin Durant is anticipated to overlook Group USA’s exhibition sport towards Australia in Abu Dhabi on Monday, in accordance with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Durant has been coping with a calf pressure, and he missed yet one more observe on Saturday as Group USA prepares for a warmup match towards one of many Olympic subject’s greatest groups. Nonetheless, Steve Kerr shouldn’t be apprehensive about Durant’s standing for the precise match, which begins in late July.
“I do know there’s nonetheless a few weeks earlier than we’ve to decide roster-wise,” Kerr stated. “So we’re simply taking it day-to-day.” Whereas Derrick White has changed the injured Kawhi Leonard for Group USA, Kerr has to this point signaled that he expects Durant to be accessible when the video games depend and that the crew shouldn’t be but planning for a alternative.
“It is not one thing we have even mentioned at this level as a result of we really feel good that [Durant] goes to be OK,” Kerr stated.
After the Australia matchup, Group USA nonetheless has another exhibition sport towards the highest competitors. On Wednesday, it’ll face Serbia and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. They shut out their warmup slate with an exhibition towards South Sudan on July 20. Durant had beforehand been hopeful of enjoying towards Australia, however there is no such thing as a indication but as as to whether or not he can be accessible towards Serbia. He missed final Wednesday’s exhibition victory over Canada.
If Group USA does want to exchange Durant earlier than the match begins, an apparent candidate can be Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, who publicly grumbled about lacking out when Group USA named Celtics teammate Derrick White to the roster as an alternative of him. White shares a place with Leonard and Durant, and White, a small guard, doesn’t replicate both of their ability units.
Nonetheless, if Brown’s cryptic social media feedback have turned Group USA off, there are nonetheless a number of viable choices to exchange Durant if they should. Group USA named a 41-player pool of choices earlier than whittling the roster right down to 12. Of these 41 gamers, 27 stay in the event you exclude all at present rostered gamers, Leonard, White and Brown: Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, De’Aaron Fox, Paul George, Aaron Gordon, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson and Trae Younger.
For now, although, Group USA’s hope is clearly to get Durant again on the ground. Along with being an NBA star, Durant is Group USA’s all-time main scorer in Olympic play with 435 factors. He has received three gold medals and is enjoying for his fourth, and he has by no means missed an Olympics since making the crew for the primary time in 2012. He has change into the mainstay of USA Basketball, and it might take a major well being concern to maintain him off of the roster.
