There continues to be controversy around the final spot on Team USA's roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Less than a week ago, USA Basketball announced that star forward Kawhi Leonard was withdrawing from the tournament as he recovers from a knee injury that kept him out for most of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
USA Basketball elected Celtics guard Derrick White as Leonard's replacement, which caused his star teammate Jaylen Brown to speak out against his omission from Team USA two times over.
A few days later, Clippers president Lawrence Frank spoke to the media and expressed his disappointment toward USA Basketball's decision to send Leonard home before the Olympics — a contradicting statement to the one that USA Basketball put out at the time of Leonard's withdrawal.
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Clippers president 'disappointed' in USA Basketball's decision to send Kawhi Leonard home
USA Basketball's official release on Leonard's withdrawal made it seem like it was a joint decision with the Clippers.
"Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. 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," the statement read.
Clippers president Frank's comments to the media on Monday made it clear that the Clippers did not agree with USA Basketball's decision to send Leonard home.
Frank said the Clippers were "disappointed in USA Basketball's decision to pivot from Leonard," per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. He added that Leonard "looked good" in Team USA's practices and that "there was no setback."
Frank said he "understands" USA Basketball had to do what feels best for the program but Frank "felt Kawhi could play," per ESPN.
Lawrence Frank says Clippers were disappointed in USA Basketball’s decision to pivot from Kawhi Leonard. Frank said Leonard looked good in the first few practices and there was no setback. Frank says he understands USA has to do what it feels best but he felt Kawhi could play.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) July 15, 2024
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Leonard missed the last eight games of the 2023-24 regular season with a knee injury and only played in two of LA's six playoff games with "right knee inflammation."
He went through Team USA's training camp in Las Vegas but was sent home just before their first exhibition game against Canada.
Members of Leonard's camp "reached out to USA Basketball expressing concern," ESPN's Marc Spears reported after Leonard was sent home. He had been "battling chronic knee soreness and inflammation for months," according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Joe Vardon.
Team USA has moved on without Leonard, winning its first two exhibition tune-up games ahead of the Paris Olympics. Leonard's replacement, White, has already joined the team in Abu Dhabi for the pre-tournament showcase tour.
Frank's comments leave an ominous cloud around USA Basketball's decision with Leonard, but the Clippers president closed by stating he expects Leonard to be ready for training camp for the 2024-25 season.
