Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard will not play for Team USA in Paris Olympics

Kawhi Leonard #8 of the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team looks to pass under pressure from Jabari Smith Jr. #39 of the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team during a practice session scrimmage at the team’s training camp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on July 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

by: Will Conybeare

Posted: Jul 10, 2024 / 08:22 AM PDT

Updated: Jul 10, 2024 / 08:22 AM PDT

Los Angeles Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard will not suit up for Team USA at this year’s Olympics in Paris, team officials confirmed.

In a statement issued early Wednesday morning, USA Basketball said that while Leonard felt “ready to compete,” they and the Clippers front office decided it was in his best interest not to play.

“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Los Angeles,” the USA Basketball statement read. “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.”

Leonard, 33, missed a significant chunk of last season with the Clippers due to knee injuries, only playing in 68 of the team’s 82 games.

The two-time NBA champion missed the entire 2021-2022 season after tearing his ACL in the previous season’s playoffs and played in just two playoff games in 2023 due to a torn meniscus.

Leonard will be replaced by the Boston Celtics’ Derrick White, USA Basketball confirmed.