Kawhi Leonard Out For Team USA, Derrick White To Take Roster Spot

[RealGM Wiretap]

Kawhi Leonard will not play for the United States in the Olympics and will be replaced by Derrick White. The statement from USA Basketball suggested that the decision was made by the Los Angeles Clippers and the national team.

Leonard has not completed a season for the Clippers since 2020 and there were concerns he would be limited for the United States in the Olympics, or it could jeopardize his availability for the start of the season.

"Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olymplcs over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas," said USA Basketball in the statement. "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."

Via RealGM Staff Report

[Skipwhethers]

Kawhi with no heart and/or permanently ruined knees. Shocking.

[PoundTown]

Really curious why Brunson is not on this team. I'd take Brunson over White, Jrue and Hali personally. Hali's D is pathetic, even though he is a great offensive player. You don't need a great offensive player when the rest of your team is also great offensive players and you can field a lineup where no matter what you're second best player on the court is better than any other teams second best player. Only way you're going to lose is by sum of all parts; for team USA, that is if you don't guard.

[Oncloud9]

Really curious why Brunson is not on this team. I'd take Brunson over White, Jrue and Hali personally. Hali's D is pathetic, even though he is a great offensive player. You don't need a great offensive player when the rest of your team is also great offensive players and you can field a lineup where no matter what you're second best player on the court is better than any other teams second best player. Only way you're going to lose is by sum of all parts; for team USA, that is if you don't guard.

Same reason Kawhi isn't. Knicks only go as far as Brunson and the team wont want him already banged and bruised from the Olympics before his 40 minute a night slugfest under Thibs.

[haste10176]

Really curious why Brunson is not on this team. I'd take Brunson over White, Jrue and Hali personally. Hali's D is pathetic, even though he is a great offensive player. You don't need a great offensive player when the rest of your team is also great offensive players and you can field a lineup where no matter what you're second best player on the court is better than any other teams second best player. Only way you're going to lose is by sum of all parts; for team USA, that is if you don't guard.

Well Brunson and Edwards didnt even medal that also included haliburton however Brunson is way more ball dominant than Haliburton and Haliburton is a better creator which the team lacks outside LeBron. So Haliburton is the right guy of the two for this team however Brunson will be in the 2028 olympics and may well play ahead of Haliburton.

[elmdawgg69]

Really curious why Brunson is not on this team. I'd take Brunson over White, Jrue and Hali personally. Hali's D is pathetic, even though he is a great offensive player. You don't need a great offensive player when the rest of your team is also great offensive players and you can field a lineup where no matter what you're second best player on the court is better than any other teams second best player. Only way you're going to lose is by sum of all parts; for team USA, that is if you don't guard.

Brunson had wrist surgery last month and needs a few more weeks of recovery and rehab.

[Wildcat]

Really curious why Brunson is not on this team. I'd take Brunson over White, Jrue and Hali personally. Hali's D is pathetic, even though he is a great offensive player. You don't need a great offensive player when the rest of your team is also great offensive players and you can field a lineup where no matter what you're second best player on the court is better than any other teams second best player. Only way you're going to lose is by sum of all parts; for team USA, that is if you don't guard.

Brunson had wrist surgery last month and needs a few more weeks of recovery and rehab.

This is the correct answer.

[arbsn]

Great addition by USA... their team is too superstar heavy. They need some dogs who will go hard... I expect Jrue and White to play a big role on the team.

[lonea]

He'll most likely be out for the Clips season as well

[pushfloater]

Would have kept PG over Kawhi tbh. love his game but this man forever hurt.

[fuller4379]

Kawhi is pretty much done just like the Clippers for the next 3 years.

[puja21]

Really curious why Brunson is not on this team. I'd take Brunson over White, Jrue and Hali personally. Hali's D is pathetic, even though he is a great offensive player. You don't need a great offensive player when the rest of your team is also great offensive players and you can field a lineup where no matter what you're second best player on the court is better than any other teams second best player. Only way you're going to lose is by sum of all parts; for team USA, that is if you don't guard.

Same reason Kawhi isn't. Knicks only go as far as Brunson and the team wont want him already banged and bruised from the Olympics before his 40 minute a night slugfest under Thibs.

Initially lots of talk that KL's exit was just a preventative flex by the clippers:

Read on Twitter

But this would say otherwise:

Read on Twitter

[ReddOktober]

Really curious why Brunson is not on this team. I'd take Brunson over White, Jrue and Hali personally. Hali's D is pathetic, even though he is a great offensive player. You don't need a great offensive player when the rest of your team is also great offensive players and you can field a lineup where no matter what you're second best player on the court is better than any other teams second best player. Only way you're going to lose is by sum of all parts; for team USA, that is if you don't guard.

you just answered your own question. why do they need brunson when he’s just an undersized offensive guard. you gonnna replace one of the best two way wings of this generation with a undersized scoring guard. when you have Curry already. nah man. jaylen brown or scottie barnes was the choice but im not mad at this because he’s used to playing a role alongside star players.

[Pickled Prunes]

Would have kept PG over Kawhi tbh. love his game but this man forever hurt.

I thought it was crazy that LAC gave him that last deal when he was out for the season with a torn ACL. Now, the weight of their next three season are being supported by Kawhi's hobbled legs.

[LakersLegacy]

Gates’ beast Ballmer forced Kawhi to quit
Clippers would be harmed if Kawhi got a few bench minutes in Olympics long after the cut off date

[NoStatsGuy]

honestly this whole nomination to the team was just a political farce.

we all knew kawhi wouldnt play

[Boogie_Smooth]

I feel like there is all this talk about kawhi being a low-maintenance superstar when he was younger but those days are long gone. He likely knew he was never going to be playing, but wanted to show the world and his peers that he belongs on the team. What a bum