Team USA Basketball has a fresh injury concern with one of its most decorated Olympians.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports Sunday that Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant is battling a minor calf strain as Team USA begins training camp in Las Vegas ahead of the Paris Olympics later this month. Charania notes that Durant’s calf strain has sidelined him for the beginning of training camp, but adds that the former NBA MVP’s absence is a “precaution.”
Durant, who turns 36 in September, has been a mainstay on the Olympic basketball circuit over the years. He is tied with Carmelo Anthony for the most Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball with three (winning it all in 2012, 2016 and 2020) and also the all-time leading men’s scorer for Team USA Basketball at the Olympics with 435 career points.
But a calf injury is a concern for Durant, especially considering that he notably suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in 2019 (missing an entire season as a result). The good news for Team USA is that they have more than enough firepower to survive a presumed temporary absence from Durant. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis are among the veteran Avengers who are respawning at the Olympics after lengthy hiatuses from international competition. In addition, younger stars like Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Joel Embiid are among those who will be making their U.S. Olympic debuts.
While exhibition play begins on July 10, Team USA does not open actual Olympic play until July 28 against Serbia. That gives Durant some good recovery time (though he may not be the only USA Basketball star who is dealing with injury questions right now).