And he’s back! Kevin Durant is finally back on the hardboard with Team USA. The 14-time NBA All-Star returned to training on Friday as USAB is gearing up for the South Sudan challenge. KD missed the first three exhibition matches with a calf soreness and his return is certainly a major boost to Steve Kerr.

This was the first time Durant took the court since the training camp of Team USA got underway earlier this month. His return also boosted the morale of the fans. USA Basketball’s official X handle posted a video with the caption, “He’s back”. In the video, KD was limbering up with the team, knocking down shots.

The hyped fans soon took over social media to express their excitement at seeing the two-time NBA Finals MVP, as their comments filled the X thread.

Team USA Fans go crazy as Kevin Durant returns to practice

With the stacked roster Team USA already has, probably no one would’ve noticed Durant’s absence. But now that he’s back, the Dream Team can have the firmest claim to the Olympic gold because KD’s return will further strengthen them. One fan certainly believed so and wrote, “That’ll do it folks, y’all can hand the medals over right now.”

A fan even called Durant “Captain America!!”. KD holds eight records for Team USA at the Olympics, including the top spot for points (435), points averaged (19.8), field goals made (146) and attempted (276), 3-point field goals made (74) and attempted (148) and free throws made (69) and attempted (80). If Team USA succeeds in bagging the glory in Paris, it will be KD’s 4th Olympic gold.

“My goat/demon man let’s goo,” commented another fan. The return of the “Slim Reaper” seems to have lifted the morale among the fans who were slightly worried after Team USA’s stuttering win over Australia. But now, with Durant back, they can breathe a sigh of relief.

A fan added, “Ant will be even more comfortable now with another one of his sons in the lineup,” recalling the trash-talking between Durant and Anthony Edwards during the Suns and Timberwolves’ first-round play-offs game last season. Edwards had the last laugh and he boasted how he sent his idol home. But there’s nothing but respect between the two and surely Ant-Man would be excited to share the court with KD.

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“US GOLD IS DEFINITELY COMING,” a hyped fan declared. Team USA is in Group C alongside Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico. It’s not far-fetched for the fans to think of gold, as the team is expected to glide through this group with little difficulty. In fact, with the talent that they have, this is the bare minimum any USA fan can expect.

In Kevin Durant’s absence, Team USA authoritatively fended off Serbia. Whether Durant will play against South Sudan on July 21 is debatable, but he is close to full fitness. “I would love for him to play in a game, but we have to take it day by day. We’ll see where he is tomorrow,” Steve Kerr said on Friday.

This could create a selection dilemma for Kerr as he’d probably have to drop Edwards or Jayson Tatum from the lineup to accommodate KD. The fans, in the meantime, will eagerly await more updates on Durant’s fitness in the next few days.