Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will not be part of Team USA’s Olympic squad, as confirmed by the organization on Wednesday. Leonard, 33, was initially set to participate in his first Olympics this summer, having been named to USA Basketball’s 12-man roster for the Las Vegas camp.
The decision to keep Leonard out was made mutually by the Clippers and USA Basketball, due to ongoing concerns about his knee. Sources informed The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Shams Charania that Leonard has been dealing with a sore and inflamed knee for months. Earlier this week, Leonard’s camp notified USA Basketball of their concerns about his status, as reported by Marc J. Spears.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White will replace Leonard on Team USA’s roster. White, 30, is coming off his first NBA title with the Celtics, where he played a crucial role in their championship win. During the playoffs, White averaged 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks, shooting 40.4% over 19 games.
Leonard’s performance last season included an average of 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and a 41.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. He played in 68 games, the most since his 74-game season with the San Antonio Spurs in 2016-17. However, knee swelling caused him to miss the Clippers’ final eight regular-season games and four of their six first-round playoff games against the Dallas Mavericks.
In addition to Leonard’s absence, Team USA is temporarily without Kevin Durant, who is dealing with a calf strain. The Americans are aiming for a fifth consecutive gold medal in the men’s Summer Olympics tournament. Since 1992, they have only failed to finish first once, securing a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Games.
Team USA is scheduled to play an exhibition game against Canada on Wednesday.
