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. Leonard suffered a season-ending knee injury in March and appeared in just two of Los Angeles' six playoff games.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP previously missed the entire 2021-22 season due to an ACL injury. Leonard, a six-time All-Star, averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 68 games during the 2023-24 NBA season.
White averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds during the 2023-24 NBA regular season, as well as 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists during the Celtics' NBA championship postseason run.