Durant's Return to Play Under Scrutiny as Team USA Faces Challenges

The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant's representation are closely monitoring his recovery from a calf injury, balancing his eagerness to compete for Team USA. Durant's agent, Rich Kleiman, emphasized that the team is not rushing his return, despite Durant's rigorous training regimen. He was held out of a recent game against Germany, with head coach Steve Kerr stating that Durant is "day-to-day" and will need to participate in several practices and a scrimmage before returning to play. Kerr's cautious approach follows Durant's previous injury history, notably a torn Achilles in 2019 while with the Golden State Warriors. The coach noted that Durant appeared to be in good form during practice, expressing optimism about his recovery. The plan is to assess Durant's performance in an upcoming scrimmage to determine his readiness for competition. Meanwhile, Team USA is grappling with broader issues, particularly their offensive pace. Guard Devin Booker highlighted the team's struggle against Germany, where they were outshot from beyond the arc. The slower tempo imposed by the German team exposed weaknesses in Team USA's half-court offense, raising concerns about their chemistry and execution. Kerr acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "I hated our pace against Germany," and expressed confidence that the team would enhance their performance on both ends of the court as they prepare for future challenges.