Kawhi Leonard has opted out of Team USA, with Derrick White set to participate in the Paris Olympics instead.

 

USA Basketball announced Wednesday that Kawhi Leonard, forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, will not participate in the Paris Olympics. Derrick White, guard for the Boston Celtics, has been selected as his replacement on the U.S. men's basketball team roster.


According to the statement, "Kawhi has been intensively preparing for the Olympics in recent weeks and showed excellent form during practice sessions in Las Vegas. He felt fully prepared to compete. Nonetheless, he acknowledges the decision by USA Basketball and the Clippers, who believe it is best for him to focus on preparing for the upcoming season instead of participating in the Paris Olympic Games."

Leonard, 33, has faced multiple injuries over recent years. Prior to participating in 68 games during the 2023-24 season, he had played 60 games or fewer for four consecutive seasons. However, he sat out the Clippers' last three playoff games due to inflammation in his right knee.

Earlier this week at Team USA training camp, Leonard told reporters that his injury had improved significantly and expressed readiness to make his Olympic debut for the country.

Following Leonard's decision to withdraw and White's inclusion, the U.S. team is preparing to play Canada in an exhibition game on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Kevin Durant will be absent from the lineup due to a calf injury.

Team USA has upcoming exhibition games scheduled for July 15 against Australia in Abu Dhabi, July 17 against Serbia in Abu Dhabi, July 20 against South Sudan in London, and July 22 against Germany in London. Their Olympic campaign kicks off on July 28 against Serbia, led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

Despite their different positions, the newly-crowned NBA champion is known for his versatility on defense.

Derrick White, who previously played for Team USA at the 2019 World Cup, achieved a career-high scoring average of 15.2 points per game with the Celtics last season. During the postseason, he boosted his scoring to 16.7 points per game across 19 games, shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc, and making crucial defensive contributions in critical moments.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Donald Trump was injured in an attempted assassination at a rally.

Image
 Former US President Donald Trump was hurriedly escorted off stage during a rally in Pennsylvania after gunshots were fired in what appeared to be an assassination attempt. Video footage captured the moment Trump grimaced and instinctively raised a hand to his right ear as several shots rang out. Swiftly responding US Secret Service agents surrounded him and swiftly moved him away from the stage to safety. Trump acknowledged supporters with a raised fist as he was escorted into a waiting vehicle. In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump disclosed that a bullet had struck the "upper part" of his right ear. Earlier, his spokesperson had mentioned he was undergoing treatment at a nearby medical center. "I instantly sensed something was amiss when I heard a whizzing sound, gunfire, and immediately felt the bullet piercing my skin," Trump wrote. "There was significant bleeding, and I quickly understood the gravity of the situation." Blood was visibly eviden...
Read more

George Clooney has strongly urged Joe Biden to withdraw from the US presidential race, following Nancy Pelosi's avoidance of questions regarding Biden's candidacy earlier today.

Image
George Clooney has strongly urged Joe Biden to withdraw from the US presidential race, following Nancy Pelosi's avoidance of questions regarding Biden's candidacy earlier today. The Hollywood actor and influential Democratic Party supporter  remarked that while the president has triumphed in numerous battles throughout his career, "the battle against time is one he cannot win." His remarks followed Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, expressing growing concern within the party, emphasizing that time is "rapidly diminishing" for Mr. Biden to make a decision about continuing his campaign against Donald Trump following his disastrous debate performance. Despite this, the president has reiterated his determination to persist as the Democratic party's candidate and defeat Trump in November. Clooney wrote in The New York Times that it was "heartbreaking to admit," but the Mr. Biden he encountered at a recent fundraising event three weeks ago was ...
Read more

What major security threats are on the horizon?

Image
At first glance, this past week's NATO summit in Washington appears to have met its objectives. The alliance has demonstrated its increased size and strength, reaffirmed its unwavering military support for Ukraine, and issued a firm warning to China regarding its covert backing of Russia's actions in Kyiv. Sir Keir Starmer's new government has seized the opportunity to establish itself as a pivotal player in the transatlantic alliance, especially amidst political uncertainties surrounding the White House and many European nations. Back in Britain, the immediate priorities for this new administration are pressing: addressing issues such as the economy, housing, immigration, and the NHS, among others. However, unforeseen threats and scenarios have a tendency to appear unexpectedly, disrupting even the most carefully laid plans. What challenges could arise during the tenure of this new UK government?
Read more