It appears as if Clippers star Kawhi Leonard could not ever get to play within the Olympics after he withdrew from Team USA and Stephen A. Smith known as it.
Before Kawhi withdrew, Smith was questioning why he was even on Team USA to begin with, given his regarding damage historical past.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more pissed off at a dude wearing Team USA uniform,” Smith mentioned The OG’s podcast. “Remember how excited he was once they got here to him and Grant Hill and them put him on Team USA? Do you know the way many video games you’ve missed?
“To be speaking about enjoying in the summertime, you would possibly get harm from the flight to Paris. I’m not letting you play. If I’m Steve Ballmer, I’ll use each means at my disposal to verify this man ain’t on Team USA. For one motive and one motive solely, I don’t belief that you just’re going to depart wholesome.
“I promise you, you tell me right now, if I said to you, if I said you UD, M&M you got to bet me your check that this man going to play this summer and he going to be healthy for the season. None of y’all are taking that bet.”
Leonard performed in simply two 2023-24 postseason video games for LAC resulting from knee irritation.
In a press release launched Wednesday, USA Basketball implied that Leonard’s determination was influenced by the Clippers and Team USA officers watching Kawhi in camp over the previous few days, however talked about nothing about damage.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the last several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. He felt ready to compete,” USA Basketball mentioned. “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.”
Recent Boston champion Derrick White will substitute Kawhi on the crew.
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