Kawhi Leonard practiced with Team USA during training camp in Las Vegas last week.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Derrick White was named to the U.S. men’s basketball team for the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, replacing Kawhi Leonard.
White averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists for the NBA champion Boston Celtics last season.
Leonard missed 12 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ final 14 games last season because of right knee inflammation. USA Basketball said it and the Clippers made the decision about Leonard’s status.
“Kawhi has been preparing for the Olympic Games over the past several weeks and has had some intense workouts in Las Vegas,” USA Basketball said in a statement Wednesday. “He felt ready to compete. However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers decided it was in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than competing in the Olympic Games in Paris.”
An update on Kawhi Leonard of the United States men’s national basketball team. pic.twitter.com/84TjYpc90i
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 10, 2024
Welcome to ???????? #USABMNT, @Dwhite921! pic.twitter.com/99n1S33ITO
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 10, 2024
Leonard is a two-time NBA champion, six-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player, but injury problems have been a recurring theme in his career.
He has missed 256 regular-season games over the past seven years, including all of 2021-22 because of knee issues. He played 68 games last season with the Clippers, his most since playing 74 for San Antonio in the 2016-17 season.
“It’s just my journey,” Leonard said earlier this week of his injuries. “I can’t give myself a perfect scenario. Last year, I tried to play as much as I could, I felt good and at some point, I couldn’t play. I did my best, but it’s just my journey. I don’t want to be in a situation like I’m in, but I have to accept it for what it is. And a lot of people are watching me, whether they’re fans or skeptics. But I motivate a lot of people, so I have to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Leonard, who is part of a 592-person Olympic team officially named by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee earlier Wednesday, said earlier this week that his knee was fine and he was able to return to on-field training about three weeks ago to prepare for the Games.
“I’m ready to go,” Leonard said. “I’m playing now, so I’m happy.”
Days later, hours before the United States’ first exhibition game against Canada and a day before the team was set to depart for Abu Dhabi — the first of two international stops for more games and practices before arriving in France for the Olympics — Leonard was gone.
That leaves the United States with just 10 players available, at least in the very short term. Kevin Durant won’t play against Canada because of a calf injury and was unable to participate in the team’s four-day training camp in Las Vegas that ended Tuesday.
Leonard had been invited to play on USA Basketball teams in the past and had to decline for various reasons, mainly injury issues or long playoff runs.
“I’ve always wanted to play against other foreign talent or just other styles and players of basketball,” Leonard said. “That’s one of the reasons I play this game.”
USA Basketball to play five exhibitions through Las Vegas, London and Abu Dhabi before the Paris Olympic Games starts on July 26.
THE @usabasketball Showcase program ????
Watch #USABMNT Take on Canada Wednesday at 10:30pm/ET on FS1! pic.twitter.com/lSNqqPzJNw
— NBA (@NBA) July 9, 2024
