Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will no longer be playing for the men’s basketball team in the Olympics, USA Basketball confirmed on Wednesday.

USA Basketball stated, “Kawhi has been training hard for the Olympics over the last few weeks, especially in Las Vegas, where he had a couple of impressive sessions.” It added, “He felt prepared to face off. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that USA Basketball and the Clippers decided it would be better for him to spend the rest of the summer getting ready for the next campaign rather than competing in the Olympics in Paris.”

One of the biggest basketball talents in America, Leonard was expected to have a great Olympics in Paris, but his career has been plagued by injuries constantly.

To preserve his health for critical situations, he has limited his playing time for the past few seasons as part of a “load management” approach. His participation was further limited by a knee injury sustained late in the 2023–24 season, which cost him multiple crucial games in the Clippers’ playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.

Leonard is replaced by Derrick White for the Olympics in Paris.

The Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White will take over for Kawhi Leonard on the squad, according to a statement from USA Basketball. With 12 NBA seasons under his belt, Leonard is a seasoned veteran who has left a lasting impression.

The 33-year-old Leonard won two NBA titles while playing for the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs in the past. With the Spurs in 2014, he won his first championship, and with the Raptors in 2019, he won his second.

The revelation surfaced shortly after the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced Leonard’s inclusion in the 592-person US Olympic Team that will represent the United States in Paris. Leonard was overjoyed to hear this news, as he had been waiting impatiently for this chance.

Leonard, who had qualified for the 2020 and 2016 teams as a finalist, is about to make his Olympic debut. His tenacity and commitment to his sport are evident in the excitement around his admission in the Paris 2024 Olympics.