NBA News Wire
NBA roundup: Injury fears led to Durant bolting Team USA
Alan is an expert gambling writer who works as one of the chief editors for Basketball Insiders. He has been covering online gambling and sports betting for over 8 years, having written for the likes of Sportlens, Compare.bet, The Sports Daily, 90min, and TopRatedCasinos.co.uk. His particular specialisms include US online casinos and gambling regulations, and soccer and basketball betting. Based in London, Alan holds an MA in English Literature and is a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC.
All posts by Alan DraperUpdated3 hours ago on April 19, 2024
It was fear, not fatigue, that pushed Kevin Durant away from Team USA this summer.
Durant, currently sidelined with a foot injury, reveals in an upcoming HBO documentary that watching as Indiana Pacers forward Paul George fell hard into a basket support at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, fracturing his right leg, he no longer felt comfortable as part of Team USA.
Durant left the team but said at the time it was because of fatique and not anything to do with George’s accident. Durant is also shown talking to coach Mike Krzyzewski and appears visibly shaken when he says softly “I feel like I’m letting somebody down and I hate that feeling.”
—Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine by the NBA on Tuesday after intentionally striking a camera during a 93-81 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The incident occurred on the baseline with 10:01 remaining in the third quarter of a game Monday night in FedEx Forum in Memphis.
In four games this season, Allen is averaging 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
—The Grizzlies signed guard Kalin Lucas to an undisclosed contract on Tuesday.
Lucas played in eight preseason games for the Grizzlies and averaged 3.1 points and 1.0 assists. He also spent time with the Grizzlies’ 2014 Orlando Pro Summer League team. The Grizzlies previously signed Lucas on Sept. 25 and waived him on Oct. 25.
The 25-year-old Lucas played for the Iowa Energy in the NBA Development League last season and averaged 15.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He was sent back to the Energy, an affiliate of the Grizzlies, after this preseason.
