Kawhi Leonard Has Bowed Out Of 2024 Paris Olympics

He had been named to the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team which is set to compete at the Olympics. However, Kawhi Leonard has bowed out of the 2024 Paris Olympics. It appears to be a health related issue. Leonard, forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, missed 12 of the Clippers’ final 14 games this past season with right knee inflammation. Clippers’ coach Tyronn Lue is on the Team USA coaching staff. He and other Clippers’ representatives have been observing the practices of Team USA.

Between the Clippers’ organization and USA Basketball it appears the decision was made to remove Leonard from the Olympic team. USA Basketball issued the following statement:

“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the last several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. He felt ready to compete. However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it’s in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris.”

ESPN had reported on Sunday that Leonard was concerned about not participating due to the right knee injury. However, he followed up by saying, “Yeah. But I took the time, and I was able to turn around over the last two weeks,” Leonard told a small group of reporters here Sunday afternoon. “So, I’m out here now and, yeah, I’m having a good time.”

In spite of his optimism apparently all parties concerned felt the risk of him playing in the Olympics was too great. So he’ll avoid any potential injury as he prepares for the new NBA season.

Kawhi Leonard Has Bowed Out Of 2024 Paris Olympics

It’s too bad for Leonard as this would have been his  first trip to the Olympics. But one man’s loss is another man’s gain as USA Basketball has named Derrick White as his replacement. USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill had this to say:

“I am happy to announce that Derrick will compete at his first Olympic Games on the heels of a championship season in Boston,” Hill said. “We look forward to him joining the team in the coming days as we continue preparations for Paris.

White, a seven-year NBA veteran, joins the USA Men’s National Team. He helped lead the Celtics to a record 18^th NBA Championship in June. This Olympic team is stacked with players such as Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum. Therefore, White won’t need to feel any extra pressure being surrounded by so much talent.

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