ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Kevin Durant did not practice again for Team USA on Saturday, Derrick White had not yet reached the Middle East but could be on the floor for the Americans as early as Sunday, and Anthony Edwards is rising in stature, if not status.
More on these and other items regarding the USA men’s Olympic basketball team on its first day of workouts at New York University’s campus in Abu Dhabi, where the program has visited for the last two years.
Kevin Durant uncertainty
Durant’s absence, due to a left calf strain, from all full-team practices and scrimmages has now stretched into its second week.
On Wednesday, the Americans sent Kawhi Leonard home after determining his ailing left knee would not allow him to play at a high enough level during the Olympics, which begin for Team USA on July 28. White is replacing Leonard on the roster.
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American coach Steve Kerr said there is no contingency plan for Durant right now because “we feel good that he’s going to be OK.” But they also aren’t sure yet when Durant will be able to participate fully in practice, and at some point, a decision similar to the call made on Leonard will have to come down on Durant.
Will he be ready in time? Final rosters are due before Olympic competition begins, which is July 27 for men’s basketball.
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Derrick White over Jaylen Brown
Team USA left Las Vegas on Thursday, following an 86-72 win over Canada Wednesday night, stopped for fuel in Iceland, and then continued on to Abu Dhabi. It’s a nice, comfortable charter plane, with most of the bells and whistles, save for one. No wifi on the Americans’ plane.
No wonder White chose to fly commercially and meet Team USA in Abu Dhabi.
The actual reason for White’s absence is, as of Tuesday afternoon, he wasn’t on this team. He had just agreed to a four-year, $126 million contract extension the day USA’s training camp started, and he was making plans for summer break following his NBA championship with the Boston Celtics.
USA managing director Grant Hill checked with White late Tuesday to see if he was available to replace Leonard, and told the media Wednesday night: “When we asked, (White) had to ask (his wife).
“He had to make plans and coordinate things before he could get back to us with a definite yes,” Hill said.
White’s selection over Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown as Leonard’s replacement garnered an apparent complaint from Brown on social media, and general questioning of USA Basketball’s decision-makers.
White’s status in the NBA has skyrocketed over the past few seasons, but, compared to the rest of the USA roster, he is a better fit as a role player who may not get to play much.
Assuming there are no further injuries, and Durant returns to the fold, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton are going to consume the minutes at guard; Durant, Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum will play on the wing; and LeBron James is a starter as a point-4 forward.
Brown, the reigning NBA Finals MVP and a three-time All-Star, can play guard or forward, but likely wouldn’t start for this team. The backup minutes at the 4 are likely going to go to Bam Adebayo, whom the Americans love playing next to Anthony Davis in the post.
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“I like it,” Kerr said of the Davis-Adebayo pairing, which dominated in the Canada game Wednesday. “Physicality, defense, switching, rebounding — looks good.”
If the Americans, due to injury or foul trouble, need a defensive-minded guard at the point of attack, they felt White, at 6-4, is better suited for that job than Brown, who is 6-6.
If things change and it becomes clear that Durant can’t play at the Olympics, Brown’s name could resurface as a replacement.
Anthony Edwards making his name
Holiday was asked Saturday if Team USA needed a last shot to win, who would take it?
“If it was up to anybody, it would probably be Anthony Edwards,” Holiday said.
It’s not entirely clear if Holiday meant Edwards would take it, or, in Holiday’s opinion, Edwards thinks he should be the one to take it. What’s clear is Edwards is making a name for himself on this team of former Olympic gold medalists, past NBA MVPs, and current and former NBA champions.
Edwards’ 13 points off Kerr’s bench against Canada led the entire team. Yes, Edwards at one point during training camp said he was the team’s No. 1 option and the other 11 players had to fit around him, but, truly, he has spent most of the summer praising the legends on the team and referring to himself as a “regular” player.
“I feel like I won’t make my place (on this team) until we get to Paris,” Edwards said Saturday. “I got to have a good game in Paris.”
When it was pointed out to him that in the only available opportunity so far — against Canada — Edwards did outscore every other player individually, he said: “I was making my shots that night, so big shout out to me.”
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(Top photo of Team USA at practice Saturday in Abu Dhabi: Joe Murphy / NBAE via Getty Images)
