Kevin Durant misses another Team USA practice but Steve Kerr unconcerned

The U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team took to the practice court Saturday without Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, who is still struggling with a calf injury.

Team USA is currently training in Abu Dhabi in preparation for exhibition games against Australia (Monday) and Serbia (Wednesday), but is not panicking about Durant’s absence.

Coach Steve Kerr told reporters Saturday that Durant would do individual work during practice.

This week, the U.S. team replaced Kawhi Leonard with Derrick White due to injury, with White on standby for such a move. Kerr said there is no comparable Plan B for Durant.

“I know we have to wait a few more weeks before we have to make a decision on the squad, so we’re just taking it day by day,” he said.

“It’s something we haven’t even talked about at this point,” Kerr said of a contingency plan for Durant. “Because we feel good that he’s going to be OK. It’s just day by day.”

Durant, 35, has won three gold medals and is one of the greatest players in U.S. Olympic basketball history.

He leads the Americans all-time in points (435), points per game (19.8), field goals (146), 3-point field goals (74) and free throws (69). He also ranks third in rebounds (118) and blocks (16) and fourth in games played (24) and assists (71).

At the last three Olympic Games, he led the tournament in average points per game: 20.7 (2020, Tokyo), 19.5 (2012, London) and 19.4 (2016, Rio de Janeiro).

The Americans, vying for a fifth consecutive gold medal, open pool play at the Paris Olympics on July 28 against Serbia, followed by games against South Sudan (July 31) and Puerto Rico (August 3).