Kevin Durant is still dealing with a right calf strain that has kept him from playing in Team USA exhibition games. However, head coach Steve Kerr said that there is no doubt that the Phoenix Suns superstar will be ready to go come the 2024 Paris Olympics.
After Team USA’s 92-88 win against Germany in a tuneup game in London, Kerr said that he is not entertaining the idea of finding a replacement for the two-time NBA champion forward.
“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.”
Even though Team USA defeated Germany, the reigning FIBA World Cup champions did not make it easy for the Americans. Team USA had to rely on the late-game heroics of 39-year-old LeBron James, who led the squad with 20 points to go with four assists, a steal, and a block.
The United States unit went undefeated in five tuneup games, but they won their last two outings by just a combined total of five points. Having Durant back should greatly help Team USA, particularly on offense, as he’s another reliable scorer who can deliver the goods when his side needs it the most.
The USA’s first challenge in the Olympics will be on Sunday versus Nikola Jokic and Serbia, who lost to the United States last week, 105-79, in Abu Dhabi.
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