Although the 2024 Olympics are approaching, the US basketball team has yet to confirm Kevin Durant’s ability to play in the Olympic title defense campaign.After a period of injury, Kevin Durant has returned to the field with the US team in the last two training sessions. However, head coach Steve Kerr said that whether the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist will compete in Paris 2024 or not is still a question mark.
A total of three parties are working together to monitor Kevin Durant’s situation, including the US national team’s coaching staff, Durant’s own personal coaching team, and representatives from the Phoenix Suns medical team (KD’s home club in the NBA).
Although it is not known whether he can play or not, one thing is certain: Durant is determined to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics with the US team.
“To decide whether he plays or not, all three parties will have to agree together ,” coach Steve Kerr updated reporters before the US team left London to travel to Lille (France).
“We will not be able to decide for Kevin to play. We know he has a burning desire to play for the national team at this Olympics, but whether he can play or not will be a decision of many parties.”
Kevin Durant (No. 7) was an important member of the US team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, contributing greatly to the gold medal in men’s 5×5 basketball.
The US head coach added that Durant will need to “complete multiple consecutive training sessions and play at least one full practice game” for the medical team to assess the situation. After receiving the green light from all sides, Kevin Durant can play at the Olympics.
“The plan is to let Kevin Durant play a game and see how he reacts. The last two practices have been good and Kevin is very energetic ,” said Steve Kerr.
“He is ready to do everything he can to show that he is in good physical condition. We will meet again before the Olympics start to decide whether Kevin will be able to play in the opening match against Serbia.”
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Despite the absence of Kevin Durant, the US team is still unbeaten in five friendly matches before the Olympics. LeBron James and Stephen Curry lead the team, defeating Canada, Australia, Serbia, South Sudan and Germany in the past two weeks.
The US Basketball team’s 2024 Olympic campaign will officially begin at 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, with a match against Serbia. They will then play two more group stage matches against South Sudan (2:00 a.m., August 1) and Puerto Rico (10:15 p.m., August 3).