Veteran All-Star to Sit Out Olympic Warm-Up Game with Injury

NBA superstar forward Kevin Durant will miss Team USA’s first exhibition game on Wednesday against Team Canada due to a left calf strain, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr said on Tuesday.

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“He’s already doing plenty of things on the side, not with the team yet, but strengthening, treatment,” Kerr said. “He said he’s feeling pretty good, so we’ll just keep taking it day by day. It won’t be long before he’s out on the court with us, and we’ll give you updates as we get them.”

Durant, Team USA’s all-time leading scorer, did not participate in the team walkthrough on Tuesday. Durant also didn’t participate in full-contact portions of practice or team scrimmages. The 35-year-old superstar suffered the injury while working out just about a week before the start of camp, which commenced on July 6.

The injury is considered minor, so this shouldn’t be a problem long-term as the team gears up for its first Olympic game on July 28 against Serbia.

“I think he tweaked it a few days before he got here,” Kerr said Sunday. “It’s not bad. He’s assuring me that it’s not bad. We’re just going to be really careful and smart and take it day by day and go from there.”

The two-time Finals MVP is among the most talented players on the team, and has a solid chance of being in the starting lineup alongside four other future Hall of Famers. Kerr and guard Stephen Curry are familiar with Durant from their three seasons together with the Golden State Warriors, whom they led to two consecutive championships and three consecutive NBA Finals.

Durant, Curry, and Kerr have had a lasting impact on the NBA and are considered among the best of their era. Durant will seek his fourth consecutive gold medal. He’s been a consistent force for Team USA, including a World Cup gold medal in 2010. He made the first of his three Olympic appearances at the 2012 London Games.

Durant hopes to be ready for the team’s next exhibition match, which will be against Australia on July 15. Team USA will play four more exhibition games after their first on Wednesday. Following Wednesday’s game in Las Vegas, the team will travel to Abu Dhabi for two games and finish up in London for another two exhibition games.

The Opening ceremonies will commence in Paris on July 26.