Former SDSU Star Kawhi Leonard Sent Home By USA Basketball

SAN DIEGO, CA — Former San Diego State standout Kawhi Leonard was sent home from the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team "in conversation with the Clippers," the Olympic team's managing director Grant Hill said Wednesday evening.

"We just felt that we had to pivot, and not to get into the particulars, in terms of what went into the decision, but we just felt it was in our best interest, but also in the Clippers' and Kawhi's best interest, to move into a different direction," Hill said in a news conference Wednesday before the team began exhibition play with an 86-72 victory over Canada in Las Vegas.

"We tried. I think we all tried and we gave it a valiant effort, and unfortunately, we have to move forward."

Leonard missed 12 of the Clippers' final 14 games in the 2023-24 season, including the last three, due to right knee inflammation, but had been optimistic about playing Wednesday.

"Everything's been good so far" in the Olympic team's training camp which began Saturday, Leonard said on Tuesday. "It has been in a neutral state, and hopefully, it stays that way."

In the statement released earlier Wednesday announcing Leonard would not play with the team, USA Basketball said, "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."

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White was selected to replace Leonard on the roster.

— City News Service