Kawhi Leonard has withdrawn from Team USA less than three weeks before the Paris Olympics are set to begin.
USA Basketball announced Leonard’s decision on Wednesday, stating that the LA Clippers star will use the remainder of the summer to prepare for the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season.
“Kawhi has been gearing up for the Olympics in recent weeks and had productive practices in Las Vegas,” USA Basketball said in a statement. “He felt prepared to compete. However, he respects the decision made by USA Basketball and the Clippers that focusing on his readiness for the upcoming NBA season is the best course of action, rather than participating in the Paris Olympic Games.”
This would have marked Leonard’s debut at the Olympics, though he missed 12 of the Clippers’ last 14 games in the previous season due to inflammation in his right knee.
USA Basketball has the option to replace Leonard on the 12-man roster ahead of their Olympic opener against Serbia on July 28. Leonard had confirmed earlier this week that his knee was feeling good and that he had resumed on-court training approximately three weeks ago in preparation for the Olympics.
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