Kawhi Leonard has withdrawn from Group USA’s basketball group for the approaching Olympics in Paris, USA Basketball introduced on Wednesday.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the last a number of weeks and had a couple of sturdy practices in Las Vegas,” mentioned a remark from USA Basketball. “He felt in a position to compete. On the other hand, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers made up our minds it is in his best possible passion to spend the rest of the summer season making ready for the approaching season slightly than taking part within the Olympic Video games in Paris.”
Leonard performed 68 video games all the way through the 2023-24 NBA common season whilst coping with power knee soreness and irritation. He took section in each Group USA apply and scrimmage all the way through the build-up to the Paris Video games, however Leonard and group personnel felt that his knee would restrict him from being 100% all the way through the Olympic event.
Leonard neglected all the 2021-22 NBA season after tearing his ACL all the way through the 2021 postseason and used to be restricted to just two video games all the way through the 2023 playoffs because of a torn meniscus.
He mentioned previous this month that the Clippers have been “no longer truly” apprehensive about him enjoying for Group, USA. “They have been sure concerning the scenario,” Leonard mentioned. “So, yeah, they wasn’t too apprehensive about it.”
Consistent with The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Derrick White of the Boston Celtics is a sturdy chance to switch Leonard at the roster. White used to be at the 2019 FIBA Global Cup squad that completed 7th.
Group USA starts its pre-Olympic exhibition agenda Wednesday evening in Las Vegas in opposition to Canada. They’ll then go back and forth to the United Arab Emirates for 2 video games in opposition to Australia and Serbia subsequent week ahead of wrapping up the excursion in London in opposition to South Sudan and Germany.
Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico shall be Group USA’s warring parties within the Olympic crew segment, which starts July 28 in Lille, France.
