Kawhi Leonard Withdraws From Team USA for Paris Olympics

Joyce Li
·1-min read

Kawhi Leonard has officially withdrawn from Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Clippers star decision to sit out was reportedly a joint one with his team and USA Basketball.

In an official statement from Team USA, they gave fans an update as to why he would not be playing at the Olympics, "Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. He felt ready to compete. However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it’s in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris." The two-time NBA Champion is no stranger to being injury prone. In the last seven years, he missed 256 regular-season games. When discussing his injuries earlier this week, Leonard said, "This is just my journey. I can't lay out the perfect script for me. Last year I tried to play as much as possible, felt great and at a certain period of time I couldn't go. I tried the best that I could, but it's just my journey. I don’t want to be in a situation that (I'm) in, but I’ve got to take it for what it is. And a lot of people are watching, supporters or doubters. But I motivate a lot of people, so I've got to keep doing what I'm doing."

In his place, Boston Celtics' Derrick White will now be going to the Paris Olympics later this summer. White averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists this past season.

A post shared by USA Basketball (@usabasketball)

A post shared by USA Basketball (@usabasketball)

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