LAS VEGAS — Staff USA star Kevin Durant missed the primary two days of coaching camp with a calf pressure, league sources instructed The Athletic on Sunday.
Durant has executed gentle particular person work on the facet, however has not participated in full staff drills and scrimmages — together with the scrimmage towards the Choose Staff received by Staff USA, 45-39.
Durant, who’s the Individuals’ all-time main scorer, got here to camp with soreness in his calf, coach Steve Kerr mentioned, however the damage shouldn’t be believed to be critical. His standing for the staff’s first exhibition sport Wednesday towards Canada is in query, the sources mentioned.
“We’re simply going to make use of an abundance of warning,” Kerr mentioned. “It’s not unhealthy. He’s assuring me that it’s not unhealthy. We’re simply going to be actually cautious and take it day-to-day.”
Staff USA’s first Olympic sport shouldn’t be till July 28 towards Serbia in Lille, France. As soon as a remaining roster is submitted to Olympic governors later this month, no participant on the roster may be changed. However there isn’t any concern proper now Durant, or anybody else, would should be changed.
The Individuals are additionally being cautious with Joel Embiid (knee) and Kawhi Leonard (knee), however each have participated in apply. Leonard drained 4 3-pointers throughout the scrimmage and is “ramping up” from the prolonged interval of irritation he handled that knocked him out of the primary spherical.
In the meantime, Jayson Tatum missed his second consecutive day of camp for private causes. The absence is excused, Kerr mentioned, and Tatum will be part of the staff in Las Vegas.
Within the portion of the scrimmage the media considered Sunday, Kerr used separate lineups of LeBron James, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Edwards; after which Steph Curry, Embiid, Leonard, Devin Booker and Jrue Vacation.
“They talked about some guys may not play some video games., or may not play many minutes,” mentioned Edwards, USA’s main scorer on the World Cup final summer season. “I don’t thoughts. Like I mentioned, I’m enjoying alongside facet corridor of famers. So I’m simply right here. But when they want me, I’ll be one name away.”
Cooper Flagg, the incoming freshman at Duke and an early favourite to be the No. 1 choose of the 2025 NBA Draft, participated for the Choose Staff and bought behind the USA protection for a dunk within the closing seconds of the scrimmage.
“We had been rusty,” Kerr mentioned. “Day 2, guys are simply actually getting in sport situation. We gave up quite a lot of offensive rebounds. … However all in all it’s been a very good first two days, simply getting our ft below us, attending to know one another, and discovering teams that work.”
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(Photograph: Brian Babineau / NBAE by way of Getty Photos)
