Kawhi Leonard won’t be a part of the U.S. males’s basketball group that can compete within the Paris Video games in spite of everything.
It will have been the primary Olympic journey for Leonard, who missed 12 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ remaining 14 video games this previous season with proper knee irritation. USA Basketball stated it, together with the Clippers, made the choice on Leonard’s standing.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the previous a number of weeks and had a number of sturdy practices in Las Vegas,” USA Basketball stated in a press release Wednesday. “He felt able to compete. Nevertheless, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers decided it’s in his finest curiosity to spend the rest of the summer time getting ready for the upcoming season somewhat than collaborating within the Olympic Video games in Paris.”
USA Basketball can be permitted to switch Leonard on the 12-man roster and was working towards bringing in Boston Celtics guard Derrick White to take his place, an individual with data of these discussions advised The Related Press. The individual spoke to the Press on situation of anonymity as a result of USA Basketball didn’t reveal that publicly.
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Leonard stated earlier this week that his knee was positive and that he was capable of resume on-court coaching about three weeks in the past to prepare for the Olympics.
“I’m able to go,” Leonard stated then. “I’m enjoying now so, I’m completely happy.”
A few days later, hours earlier than the primary U.S. exhibition sport in opposition to Canada and in the future earlier than the group departs for Abu Dhabi — the primary of two worldwide stops for extra video games and practices earlier than arriving in France for the Olympics — Leonard was gone.
That leaves the U.S., not less than for the very brief time period, with 10 accessible gamers. Kevin Durant won’t play in opposition to Canada due to a calf pressure and couldn’t compete within the group’s four-day coaching camp in Las Vegas that ended Tuesday.