ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Group USA has relocated midway the world over however remains to be in a holding sample with star Kevin Durant, who missed follow once more Saturday with a calf pressure and certain will not play when the People face Australia in a pleasant set for Monday.
Coach Steve Kerr has been publicly downplaying any concern concerning the harm however pushed again his timeline earlier than main the group by follow.
“I do know there’s nonetheless a few weeks earlier than we now have to decide roster-wise,” Kerr mentioned. “So we’re simply taking it day-to-day.”
For weeks, Group USA had a contingency plan in place if Kawhi Leonard wasn’t capable of play within the Olympics as he recovered from a knee harm, lining up Derrick White because the possible alternative in early June. The People made that transfer Wednesday, releasing Leonard and placing White on the roster as they broke coaching camp in Las Vegas.
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If the group has a backup plan for Durant, it’s holding it below wraps.
“It isn’t one thing we have even mentioned at this level as a result of we really feel good that [Durant] goes to be OK,” Kerr mentioned.
Durant mentioned earlier this week he was hopeful to have recovered sufficient from the calf harm he suffered two weeks in the past to play throughout the warmup video games within the Center East. It features a recreation Wednesday towards Serbia, the group the U.S. will open Olympic play towards in France later this month.
White was scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi on Saturday and is anticipated to follow for the primary time Sunday.
Earlier than follow Saturday, Group USA was addressed and welcomed by its host within the UAE, Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Division of Tradition and Tourism.