Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank says it wasn’t a mutual decision with USA Basketball to hold Kawhi Leonard out of this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
“It was (USA Basketball’s) call, and I was quite frankly very disappointed with the decision,” Frank told reporters Monday, including Sports Illustrated’s Joey Linn. “Kawhi wanted to play. We wanted him to play.”
Leonard has never represented the United States at an Olympics.
USA Basketball announced last week that Leonard wouldn’t be part of the American squad. The governing body said they consulted the Clippers and collectively determined it was in the two-time Finals MVP’s “best interest” to skip the international competition.
Frank was in attendance for the Stars and Stripes’ first two practices and saw no red flags from Leonard as the six-time All-Star was a full participant in team activities.
“I expressed to them that I really wished they would’ve given Kawhi more time. … He looked good to me,” Frank said. “I know all the sacrifices he made in order to make this commitment to the Olympics, so it was very disappointing.”
Leonard was replaced by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
Team USA is looking to bounce back from a disappointing fourth-place finish at last year’s FIBA World Cup. The Americans have begun their Olympic preparations with exhibition wins over Canada and Australia.