Kevin Durant Practices with Team USA, Nears Olympic Return

Kevin Durant practiced with the U.S. Olympic basketball team on Friday, a significant step toward his return for the Paris Games.

Kevin Durant's presence on the court with the U.S. Olympic basketball team on Friday marked a crucial step in his recovery from a calf strain and his pursuit of a historic fourth Olympic gold medal.

Durant, the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. men's Olympic program, had missed the team's first three exhibition games due to the injury, but his return bolsters a squad that is already stacked with talent.

Kevin Durant Practices with Team USA, Nears Olympic Return

"It's one of those things. Just got to monitor it every day," Durant said of his calf. "I'll see how I feel after I do certain exercises. My thing is to keep running and see what happens."

The U.S. team, which is 3-0 in pre-Olympic tune-ups, will face South Sudan on Saturday and Germany on Monday in its final two games before the Olympics begin on July 26.

Durant, who has scored 435 points in Olympic play, said that being back in London, where he won his first Olympic gold in 2012, brought back memories of that formative experience.

"Definitely, 2012 was a turning point in my career, just being around greats every single day and seeing how they operate, I just took a lot of that stuff with me," Durant said.

With Durant's return, the U.S. team gains not only a prolific scorer but also a seasoned veteran with a wealth of FIBA experience.

"More firepower, more leadership, more experience in the FIBA game," said LeBron James, a three-time Olympic medalist. "We welcome his return. We're looking forward to him being back out there."

Durant has a chance to become the first four-time men's basketball gold medalist in Olympic history, a testament to his exceptional talent and longevity.

The U.S. men will play their first game of the Paris Olympics on July 28 against Serbia, a rematch of their thrilling gold medal encounter in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Durant's return is a major boost for the U.S. team as they seek to defend their Olympic title and continue their dominance in international basketball.