Kawhi Leonard out for Paris Olympics; Derrick White to Group USA

Kawhi Leonard is not going to play within the upcoming Paris Olympics for Group USA, which has changed the LA Clippers ahead with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

In an announcement launched Wednesday, USA Basketball implied that Leonard’s determination was influenced by the Clippers and Group USA officers after observing coaching camp in Las Vegas over the previous three days.

It could have been the primary Olympic journey for Leonard, who missed 12 of the Clippers’ closing 14 video games this previous season with proper knee irritation.

Clippers coach Ty Lue is on the Group USA teaching employees. Representatives from the Clippers, together with staff president Lawrence Frank, have attended practices at UNLV this week.

“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past a number of weeks and had a couple of sturdy practices in Las Vegas. He felt able to compete,” USA Basketball mentioned. “Nonetheless, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers decided it is in his greatest curiosity to spend the rest of the summer time making ready for the upcoming season relatively than collaborating within the Olympic Video games in Paris.”

White, who not too long ago signed a four-year extension value $126 million, performed on Group USA on the 2019 World Cup. He averaged 15.2 factors and 5.2 assists for the NBA champion Celtics this previous season.

“I’m completely happy to announce that Derrick will compete at his first Olympic Video games on the heels of a championship season in Boston,” USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill mentioned. “We sit up for him becoming a member of the staff within the coming days as we proceed preparations for Paris.

“I wish to thank Kawhi for his dedication to the USA Males’s Nationwide Group. He earned the chance to characterize the USA, however USA Basketball and Clippers management felt it is essential to permit Kawhi to arrange for the NBA season.”

Leonard mentioned he’d been rehabbing the knee over the previous two months and wasn’t certain whether or not he’d be capable of play till two weeks in the past, when he confirmed enchancment.

“I took the time, and I used to be capable of flip round over the past two weeks,” Leonard mentioned Sunday. “So I am out right here now and, yeah, I am having a very good time.”

Leonard mentioned Tuesday that he was planning to play in Group USA’s first exhibition sport Wednesday night time towards Group Canada however referred to his knee being in a “impartial” state.

White is not going to be with the staff Wednesday night time however is predicted to hitch Group USA this weekend in Abu Dhabi — the primary of two worldwide stops for extra video games and practices earlier than arriving in France for the Olympics.

NBA groups do not have the flexibility to forestall gamers underneath contract for enjoying for his or her nationwide groups, although usually it finally ends up being a mutual determination. Group Canada basic supervisor Rowan Barrett mentioned two weeks in the past that the Golden State Warriors have been holding ahead Andrew Wiggins out of the Olympics, although the staff mentioned it was a mutual determination.

Group USA is also coping with an damage to ahead Kevin Durant, who hasn’t been ready to participate involved observe attributable to a calf pressure and won’t play Wednesday night time.

Leonard, who’s about to begin a three-year, $150 million take care of the Clippers, hasn’t been capable of end the previous two postseasons due to proper knee accidents. The 2-time NBA champion and six-time All-NBA participant has missed 256 regular-season video games over the previous seven years, together with all the 2021-22 season with knee hassle. He appeared in 68 video games this previous season for the Clippers, his most since enjoying in 74 for San Antonio throughout the 2016-17 season.

The Related Press contributed to this report.