Kevin Durant will practice this week, but won’t play in Thursday’s exhibition game.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant and the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony will practice with Team USA at its minicamp in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Neither will play in the showcase game at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center, which is the same game Indiana Pacers star Paul George broke his right leg in after colliding with the basket stanchion last year.
After initial reports indicated that Durant was going to attend but not participate in Team USA’s practices, this news is a sign of encouragement for Durant and Thunder fans.
USA Today Sports’ Sam Amick writes:
“According to his agent, Rich Kleiman of Roc Nation Sports, and his manager, Charlie Bell, the Oklahoma City Thunder star who played just 27 games last season because of a fracture in his right foot plans to practice on Tuesday and Wednesday with Team USA at minicamp in Las Vegas. Durant will not, however, take part in the showcase game on Thursday at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.”
ESPN reported that Anthony is ahead of schedule from knee surgery.
The next time one can reasonably expect Durant in serious action will be on opening night (Wednesday, Oct. 28) when his Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs.