Kevin Durant is targeting a fourth gold medal at this summer’s Olympics in Paris
BOSTON Celtics player Jrue Holiday has laughed off any chance of Kevin Durant being replaced in Team USA’s Olympic basketball team.
Durant has missed all five of Team USA’s warm-up games ahead of the tip-off against Serbia on July 28.
Team USA star Jrue Holiday has laughed off suggestions Kevin Durant will be replaced on the teamCredit: Getty
Durant is suffering from a calf injury and has missed all of Team USA’s warm-up gamesCredit: Getty
Holiday interrupted a question aimed at Kerr during Monday’s press conference in London, prompting laughter from his coachCredit: X
Celtics star Holiday and coach Steve Kerr faced the media following Monday’s 92-88 win over Germany in London.
Kerr was asked if he had considered bringing in an injury replacement for Durant, who is suffering from a calf issue.
“There’s no thought of replacing Kevin,” Kerr replied.
The reporter continued to press the point, coming straight back at Kerr with a similar question.
“Is there a concern of working him in just because you have him?” they asked.
“That’s Kevin Durant, my boy. What are we talking about?” an incredulous Holiday interjected, shaking his head as Kerr gave a little laugh.
“That’s KD. He needs to be out there,” he added.
“The best scorer in Olympic history and one of the best plug-and-play guys in NBA history and this man asks is there a concern of working him in. Do basketball reporters even watch ball?” replied one fan on X in response to the footage.
“This is EXACTLY why the team is failing to meet expectations,” said another.
“The man carried the USA Team in the last Olympics and you want them to replace him? You want to replace Captain America?” added a third.
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“KD has been the most consistent performer for USA in Olympics,” commented a fourth.
Durant is attending his fourth Olympics and is the all-time scoring leader for the US men’s team.
He has won three consecutive gold medals at London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.
The Phoenix Suns superstar sustained the calf injury before training camp started on July 6, and has been unable to suit up since.
“I’ve seen progress every day,” Durant said on Friday, per the Associated Press.
USA basketball Olympic schedule
Men
July 28, 11.15am ET – USA vs Serbia, NBC
July 31, 3pm ET – USA vs South Sudan, USA Network
August 3, 11.15am ET – USA vs Puerto Rico, NBC
Women
July 29, 3pm ET, USA vs Japan, USA Network
August 1, 3pm ET, USA vs Belgium, USA Network
“It’s one of those things. Just got to monitor it every day. I’ll see how I feel after I do certain exercises.
“My thing is to keep running and see what happens.”
“I talked to him today, he said he was feeling better,” Kerr added on Monday.
“We’re hoping he can put together a couple of practices in a row and a scrimmage and get through that well and then he’ll be available for us.
“It’s kind of day to day. I was hoping he would get a game [in London] but it just didn’t work out.”
Team USA went 5-0 during their warm-up schedule despite scares along the way.
They had to fight back from a 16-point deficit to beat South Sudan 101-100 on Saturday, before limping past Germany.
20-time NBA All-Star LeBron James scored the winning layup with eight seconds left to complete a dramatic come-from-behind victory.
