Kevin Durant has been sidelined since the start of Team USA's training camp. Due to a calf strain, the Suns player did not take part in group training during the first two days of the Olympic regrouping.
Team USA's management seems more cautious than anything else for the winger. The injury is not considered serious by Steve Kerr who must also be careful with players who are used to physical problems like Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard.
“We're just going to be very careful.”, estimates the selector. “It's not a big deal. He assures me it's not a big deal. We're just going to be very careful and take it day by day.”
Kevin Durant's injury should therefore not prevent him from participating in the Olympic Games. He could become the first athlete to win four gold medals in the men's event.
Jayson Tatum is also missing.
However, even if this injury does not seem so serious, the presence of “KD” against Canada for the first preparation match seems compromised. And KD obviously did not participate in the opposition won 45-39 against the Select Team.
He's not the only player to miss this scrimmage against this selection of sparring partners. Jayson Tatum is absent from the first two days of training camp for personal reasons. He is expected to join training camp this Monday.
“We were rusty,” concedes Steve Kerr. “Day two, guys are just getting into playing condition. We gave up a lot of offensive rebounds. But overall, these first two days have been really good, it’s just a matter of getting into the rhythm, getting to know each other and finding groups that work.”
