Is Kevin Durant playing today against Serbia? Latest on Team USA forward's status | 2024 Paris Olympics (July 28)

Kevin Durant is one of Team USA’s biggest stars. However, Durant’s calf strain has held him back in the past three weeks, missing out on the team’s entire exhibition series in Las Vegas and London.

After weeks of recuperating with the national squad, Durant is cleared to feature in Team USA's Paris Olympics game versus Serbia on Sunday (as per The Athletic's Shams Charania). Durant provides a much-needed boost as they face three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic’s national team.

Earlier, Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported that Durant passed all tests before Saturday’s practice, clearing him for physical activities ahead of their first game. The former NBA MVP and two-time champion strained his left calf days before Team USA’s training camp on July 6.

With a superstar-laden squad, Team USA is the favorite to win their fifth straight Olympic gold medal. Durant is aiming to become the only American basketball player to win four gold medals.

Durant is the all-time leading scorer in Team USA. He averaged 20.7 points per game in the 2020 Tokyo Games, the highest scoring average an American has ever recorded in the Olympics.

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr opted to keep Durant on the roster despite missing most of their practices and games, unlike Kawhi Leonard, who was sent home and was replaced by Derrick White due to a knee injury.

After the Olympics’ opening ceremony on Saturday, Kerr said he hopes to see Durant play for the first game.

“Hopefully,” Kerr said about Durant’s availability (h/t NBC). “I’m confident we’ll have everybody ready tomorrow.”

Durant was also seen dunking on Thursday's scrimmage, wherein he was also posterized by Anthony Edwards.

Kevin Durant provides “instant impact” for Team USA, according to LeBron James

Kevin Durant’s teammates have been waiting for him to return to the court, especially his NBA rival LeBron James, who expressed high praises to Durant ahead of his return.

“(He’s an) Instant impact,” James said (h/t The Athletic). “He looked extremely (good) the other day in practice. Obviously his wind and his rhythm are going to continue to come, but if we’re able to get him back, it makes a huge impact to our club.”

James has been Team USA’s go-to guy when Durant was out in the exhibition showcases. Team USA went 5-0 in pre-Olympic games, beating the likes of Canada, Serbia, Germany, Australia and South Sudan. However, the margin of victory was closer than most people expected.

Once Durant returns to the court, Team USA will have another offensive weapon alongside Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum. It remains to be seen if he will start for the team or be relegated off the bench.