The Clippers will not be completely satisfied about Team USA sending Kawhi Leonard house. The crew has additionally taken problem with USA Basketball suggesting they performed a job within the choice.
USA Basketball govt director Grant Hill has since stated the choice to tug Leonard got here from his finish, however Team USA’s preliminary assertion urged the Clippers had been additionally concerned.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas,” the assertion launched on July 10 learn. “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.”
However, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank now says his crew didn’t assist the choice.
“It was USAB’s call, and I was, quite frankly, very disappointed with the decision,” Frank told reporters. “Kawhi wanted to play. We wanted him to play.”
Leonard had been coping with knee irritation and soreness, so many assumed his withdrawal was due to that. But Frank isn’t satisfied.
“I was there the first two practices,” Frank stated when requested if Leonard had a setback together with his knee damage. “He appeared superb, was a full participant in all the things that they did. I wasn’t there for the third observe, the place in the end, that was the purpose the place they determined to go in a distinct course. I expressed then, I actually wished that they might have given Kawhi extra time.
“We have the benefit of having been around Kawhi for five years to see his body, see where he’s at. He looked good to me. I know all the sacrifices he made in order to make this commitment to the Olympics. So it was very disappointing.”
Celtics guard Derrick White will now take Leonard’s place.
READ MORE: Derrick White Relishing Opportunity With Team USA
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