While it was widely expected that the star-studded Team USA would dominate each of their opponents in the exhibition games leading up to the Paris Olympics, the reality proved quite different. Coach Steve Kerr's team encountered challenges in most games and faced the ultimate scare against South Sudan and Germany.
Consequently, Paul Pierce has been forced to believe that although the Americans would clinch the gold medal, their journey to the triumph would be more arduous than initially anticipated.
Expressing his concerns during the most recent episode of Undisputed, 'The Truth' asserted that if Kevin Durant joins Team USA, the team's fit and dominance on the international stage would be unmatched.
"I think he just adds such a dimension to the team, and he's the most experienced. He understands the rules. He understands the mentality you gotta have. He's the leading scorer in the history. He understands international play... KD is different, man," Pierce said . "You just throw him on the court. You can literally put KD on an airplane, fly around the world, don't know where you going for 36 hours, drop him off anywhere, and he can still make a bucket without having to play in three months. Imma bet on it."
Pierce sets high expectations from Kevin Durant
Since the start of the training camp, the two-time Finals MVP has been contending with a calf strain, which initially raised concerns about his ability to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games.
However, after The Slim Reaper returned to practice on Wednesday, the hope is that a proper scrimmage session in the remaining days will put him to the test even more to see if he can handle the fast-paced action just yet.
This is particularly crucial given that numerous All-NBA players have found it challenging to perform at their peak in such a high-profile and hyped scenario. However, Pierce expressed no such apprehension regarding the 14-time All-Star's capabilities.
Moreover, the 2008 Finals MVP's confidence in Durant is so absolute that he emphasized trusting the Suns forward to knock a life-dependant shot even if the latter hadn't touched the ball for a year.
"I don't care if he ain't dribble the ball (with the rest of the players)," Pierce concluded. "If KD didn't play basketball for a whole year, he ain't touch the ball, I would bet my life... if KD gets a shot for my life, I'm taking that."
Related: "He was supposed to ride the sunset out in Denver" - Carmelo Anthony on why it was bittersweet to hear about Billups-Iverson swap
When will KD be in action for Team USA?
Despite having had his healthiest campaign since his Achilles injury in 2019, wherein he participated in 75 regular season games for Team USA, Durant's current calf strain is being treated cautiously. Given his history of struggling with leg injuries and keeping in mind his importance for the Suns to win a championship, the national team and their coaching staff aren't willing to test KD before he is at his best.
On the other hand, while engaging in team practices and individual shootarounds, Durant himself is taking a measured approach, prioritizing a day-by-day assessment of his condition. His determination to find his rhythm only suggests that his return to the court may be imminent.
That being said, while the 35-year-old may not participate in the USA's match against Nikola Jokic's Serbia on Sunday, there are high expectations that the two-time All-Star Game MVP could make his return to national team duties in the game against South Sudan on July 31st.
Related: Paul Pierce on Joel Embiid's claim that he is the most hated player in the NBA: "I think it's more disappointment than hate"
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