Steve Kerr is remaining optimistic about Kevin Durant’s calf injury.
Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted that Kerr announced KD will practice on Sunday and he's "more hopeful he may play.” Following the Warriors' Game 4 loss on Friday, ESPN reported that Durant's "body is not ready" to return before the Finals' end.
The news arrived after a report emerged that Durant’s absence during the NBA Finals was negatively impacting the Golden State Warriors and creating “confusion and angst” among his teammates.
According to The Athletic, Durant’s injury is causing “angst” within the Warriors organization, since the team isn’t sure when or if he will return to play during the Finals. Durant has been absent since the conference semis.
There was hope that Durant would play in Game 4 and work through his injury like Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Iguodala, and Kevon Looney did before. But when that didn’t happen, the team felt like their championship defense was in jeopardy and couldn’t understand why he wasn’t there. The Athletic reports that the Warriors have thought that Game 5 was the soonest Durant would return.
The Warriors are one loss away from relinquishing their championship. Game 5 is on Monday.
