"He’s been working and rehabbing": Grant Hill offers major update on Kevin Durant's availability for Team USA in the Olympics
Kevin Durant's availability remains a major question mark for Team USA as they prepare to defend their Olympic gold medal in Paris. NBA legend and current Team USA managing director Grant Hill addressed the lingering concern surrounding Durant's participation in the Paris Games amid a calf injury.
In a press conference, Hill assured fans that the superstar forward from the Phoenix Suns was getting after it to be prepared for the biggest stage of international basketball.
“Durant will be on the plane. He’s been working and rehabbing. He’s looked great. I think we are just being cautious and conservative. I think we expect to see him on the court when we are in Abu Dhabi.”
On July 8 during the second day of the practice in Las Vegas, Durant suffered a minor calf strain and was held off the court. The Phoenix Suns superstar has been instrumental for Team USA across his Olympic tenure. He is the country's leading scorer in Olympic history and has won three gold medals.
A healthy Kevin Durant would be a huge addition to an already-talented Team USA roster. Team USA is led by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Jayson Tatum in the race for their fifth consecutive gold medal.
Assessing Kevin Durant's status and potential replacements for Team USA
Kevin Durant's availability for next month's Paris Olympics is now in question, following a calf strain issue that he suffered earlier in training in Las Vegas. Despite the optimism about his recovery, this is a wrench in Team USA's plans.
According to senior NBA reporter and insider Shams Charania, Durant is expected to take about a week to rehab and recover from his calf strain injury, with the team closely monitoring his progress.
It remains to be seen how long Durant takes to recover. It takes between 2-4 weeks for a calf strain to recover depending on the severity. That is a tight window, given the games start July 26. Without Durant, Team USA has a talented pool from which to choose.
The most logical option to replace Kevin Durant would be Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown. Brown just won himself a ring and brought home the Finals MVP in that championship effort. The explosive two-way wing averaged a whopping 23.0 ppg last year on the back and 49.9 percent shooting from the field.
Another potential candidate is the Philadelphia 76ers newest star, Paul George. Or perhaps Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, as both are two-way players who can both score and defend the best players on the opposition's team.