Derrick White to replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA’s basketball squad for Paris 2024
USA basketball has announced that Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will no longer be participating at Paris 2024. He will be replaced on Team USA by reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
Per a press release, both Team USA and the Clippers reached the conclusion that it was in the six-time NBA All Star and two-time NBA champion’s best interest to spend his summer preparing for the upcoming season instead.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas,” a USA Basketball statement 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.”
Kawhi Leonard, 2024 USA Basketball Men's National Team practice session
Leonard has a history of navigating injuries, missing the entire 2021-22 NBA season after tearing his ACL during the 2021 postseason. He was then limited to just two games during the 2023 playoffs due to a torn meniscus.
He managed this injury throughout the 2023-24 campaign, appearing in 68 games and earning All NBA Second Team honors. Leonard’s season was unfortunately cut short once again, missing the Clippers' final playoff games against the Dallas Mavericks as he battled through right-knee inflammation.
“I want to thank Kawhi for his commitment to the USA Men’s National Team. He earned the opportunity to represent the United States, but USA Basketball and Clippers leadership felt it’s important to allow Kawhi to prepare for the NBA season,” said USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill.
White is coming off the best season of his career, playing a pivotal role in the Celtics’ title run and earning his second consecutive NBA All-Defensive Second Team appearance. Appearing in 73 games, the 30-year-old averaged 15.2 points per game, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 39.6% from three on just under seven attempts per game. White was on the 2019 FIBA World Cup squad that finished seventh.
“I am happy to announce that Derrick will compete at his first Olympic Games on the heels of a championship season in Boston,” Hill said. “We look forward to him joining the team in the coming days as we continue preparations for Paris."
Team USA will continue to prepare for the Games, starting with a friendly against Canada on Wednesday 10 July in Las Vegas, the first of five preparation games. Their next game, following Wednesday, will take place on 15 July in Abu Dhabi against Australia.
Derrick White, Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals
Team USA’s outspoken support of Simone Biles
While Team USA is aiming for its fifth-straight basketball gold medal, the squad is also looking forward to savoring the Olympic experience off the court. This includes meeting other Olympic athletes and attending their competitions, most notably gymnastics star and fellow American Simone Biles.
“Simone is super dope,” LeBron James said. “And she’s an inspiration to my daughter and to all, not only Black girls in the world, but also, kids, anyone, not only just in gymnastics, but any field. If you love greatness - which is another story about the people that don’t love greatness or act like they don’t, but they just have to be in the hate pool because that’s what society is today. But Simone is amazing and she’s everything.”
The 27-year-old Biles has already won seven Olympic medals, including four golds, in two trips to the Games. She is one of the headliners of Paris 2024 and all eyes will be on her when she competes, including those of Team USA who will be trying to make time in their schedules to see her live.
“I heard it’s really expensive to get in,” said Team USA guard Tyrese Haliburton. “But I think I can make that work.”
Based on the Olympic schedule, it appears Team USA will have a few opportunities to show their support in person, including the women’s gymnastics all-around final on 1 August. With rumors that this could be Biles' last Olympics, there is a further sense of urgency for Team USA to witness her greatness.
“I've got to go see that,” said forward Kevin Durant.
“I was talking to a gymnast the other day and I didn't know their peak is from like 15 to like 18 or 19 or something like that," Durant continued. “So, for her to be at that age and still elite, of course, yeah, I want to go check her out. I’ve always been a fan of what she was doing. Introduced me to that sport, really. I wasn't really paying attention much until she started doing her thing. ... Simone is somebody who set the tone for what a champion, an Olympian, a winner in life should be.”
Women’s artistic gymnastics at Paris 2024 will run from 28 July through 5 August. Men’s basketball will begin on July 27 and conclude on 10 August.
Simone Biles, 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials