Team USA announced that small forward Kawhi Leonard will withdraw from the Olympics. He will be replaced by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. The Los Angeles Clippers expressed that it is Leonard’s “best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris.”
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas,” a Team USA statement said this morning.
It was a surprise that Leonard was on the final roster after his injury concerns late in the NBA season. The 12-year veteran was sidelined due to a knee injury he sustained late in the season, which was the main reason for concerns about the California native’s ability to contribute this summer in Paris.
It was reported that Boston Celtics’ Derrick White was considered a strong favorite to replace Leonard on Team USA, first reported by ESPN’s Marc J. Spears. After the Kawhi announcement, this indeed was confirmed.
White won his first NBA Championship this season with Boston, averaging 15 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal, and one block. He almost had a 40/40/90 season, shooting 39.6% from three. He is a worthy replacement, though some fans wonder if the team should have replaced Leonard with a big man.
Only time will tell how reliable White will be, but Leonard will be missed. However, this shouldn’t hinder Team USA’s pursuit of the gold medal.
