Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is withdrawing from Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, USA Basketball confirmed in a statement shared on its social media accounts Wednesday (July 10).
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and has had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. 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,” USA Basketball said.
The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reported that Boston Celtics guard Derrick White is considered to be a strong replacement candidate, according to team sources.
“Kawhi Leonard is withdrawing from Team USA for the Paris Olympics and will be replaced, sources tell me and @joevardon. Boston’s Derrick White is a strong candidate to replace Leonard on Team USA, sources said,” Charania wrote on his X account.
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue is currently working as the USA Basketball Men’s National Team assistant coach.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND WILL BE UPDATED.