Kawhi Leonard Withdraws from Olympic Squad, Derrick White Named Replacement

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will not participate in Team USA's Olympic squad.

The 33-year-old Leonard was expected to join his first Olympics this summer after being named to USA Basketball's 12-man roster for the Las Vegas camp. However, a statement released Wednesday indicated that the Clippers and USA Basketball mutually decided to keep Leonard out.

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White will replace Leonard on Team USA's roster.

Leonard has been dealing with a sore and inflamed knee for months, according to sources cited by The Athletic's Joe Vardon and Shams Charania. Leonard's camp informed USA Basketball of concerns about his status earlier this week, a source told Marc J. Spears.

Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and shot 41.7% from three-point range for the Clippers last season. He played in 68 games, his most since a 74-game season with the San Antonio Spurs in 2016-17. Swelling in his right knee caused him to miss the Clippers' final eight regular-season games and four of their six first-round playoff games against the Dallas Mavericks.

White recently helped the Celtics secure their 18th NBA championship. The 30-year-old guard contributed significantly during the playoffs, averaging 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks, while shooting 40.4% over 19 games.

Team USA, which has an exhibition game scheduled against Canada on Wednesday, is also temporarily without Kevin Durant due to a calf strain. The American team is aiming for a fifth consecutive gold medal at the men's Summer Olympics. They have failed to finish first only once since 1992, settling for bronze at the 2004 Athens Games.