The U.S. males’s basketball staff has made a roster change.
Los Angeles Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard will not play within the Paris Olympics and Boston Celtics guard Derrick White will change him, USA Basketball introduced Wednesday.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the previous a number of weeks and had just a few robust practices in Las Vegas,” the assertion mentioned. “He felt able to compete. Nevertheless, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers decided it is in his greatest curiosity to spend the rest of the summer season making ready for the upcoming season moderately than taking part within the Olympic Video games in Paris.”
The 33-year-old Leonard has battled by way of varied accidents over the previous a number of years. He had performed 60 video games or fewer in 4 straight seasons earlier than suiting up for 68 contests in 2023-24, however he missed the Clippers’ closing three playoff video games as a consequence of proper knee irritation.
Leonard, in talking to reporters earlier this week at Staff USA coaching camp, mentioned that his harm had improved and he felt able to symbolize the nation in his first Olympics.
After Leonard’s withdrawal and White’s addition, the People will face Canada in an exhibition on Wednesday night time in Las Vegas, with Kevin Durant already set to take a seat out as a consequence of a calf harm.
Staff USA has subsequent tune-ups scheduled for July 15 (vs. Australia in Abu Dhabi), July 17 (vs. Serbia in Abu Dhabi), July 20 (vs. South Sudan in London) and July 22 (vs. Germany in London). The Olympics slate begins on July 28 in opposition to three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia.Regardless of taking part in totally different positions, the newly-crowned NBA champion is a equally versatile defender.
White, who performed for Staff USA on the 2019 World Cup, averaged a career-best 15.2 factors per recreation for the Celtics final season. He elevated his scoring common to 16.7 over 19 postseason video games whereas capturing 40.4% from deep and making key defensive performs in a number of moments.