Los Angeles Clippers star and Team USA forward Kawhi Leonard will not play in the upcoming Olympics in Paris, officials said Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Leonard had been hobbling with an injured knee during L.A.’s first-round playoff loss to the eventual Western Conference-champion Dallas Mavericks.
« The organization and the Clippers determined it’s in Leonard’s best interest to spend the rest of the summer preparing for the upcoming season, » according to a statement from USA Basketball.
He played in Games 2 and 3 of the best-of-7 series won, 4-2, by Dallas.
It wasn’t immediately clear who’d replace Leonard on the roster but Boston Celtics guard Derrick White appears to be a likely candidate.
Team USA already has two other members of the championship Celtics on team on this squad, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday.
The star-studded American team, featuring all-time NBA scoring leader LeBron James and 3-point shooing great Steph Curry, is set to open Olympic play on July 28 against Serbia in Lille.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
