The Clippers are not happy about Team USA sending Kawhi Leonard home. The team has also taken issue with USA Basketball suggesting they played a role in the decision.
USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill has since said the decision to pull Leonard came from his end, but Team USA’s initial statement suggested the Clippers were also involved.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas,” the statement released on July 10 read. “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 team did not support the decision.
“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 dealing with knee inflammation and soreness, so many assumed his withdrawal was because of that. But Frank isn’t convinced.
“I was there the first two practices,” Frank said when asked if Leonard had a setback with his knee injury. “He looked very good, was a full participant in everything that they did. I wasn’t there for the third practice, where ultimately, that was the point where they decided to go in a different direction. I expressed then, I really wished that they would have given Kawhi more 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