By Shawn Smith

Kawhi Leonard will not participate in the Paris Olympics and will be replaced on the U.S. men’s basketball roster by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

The news was announced by USA Basketball hours before Team USA was set to face Canada in a Las Vegas exhibition match.

The Los Angeles Clippers forward has been dealing with right knee inflammation which caused him to miss the end of his team’s first-round playoff series loss. In a statement, USA Basketball said that Leonard “felt ready to compete” in Paris but Team USA and the Clippers determined that in would be “in his best interest” to sit out the Olympics. 

Leonard, 33, would have been making his Olympic debut in Paris. He was a member of the USA Select Team — the squad that trains against the Olympic team — in 2012 but had never been to the Olympics himself.

After going through the walkthrough, Leonard and head coach Steve Kerr both said he would play in the game.

“Yeah, I think I’ll be good tomorrow,” Leonard told reporters at the time. “Everything’s been good so far. It has been in a neutral state, and hopefully, it stays that way.”

Regarded as one of the NBA’s best two-way players, Leonard was expected to provide a strong defensive presence for Team USA. His replacement, White, will also be able to fill an important defensive role when called upon.

A seven-year NBA veteran, White is coming off a title run with the Boston Celtics. The 30-year-old guard averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game during the regular season and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He signed a four-year, $125.9 million extension with the team earlier in July.

White is now the third member of the Celtics to join Team USA this summer. He’ll play alongside NBA teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday in Paris.

Source: wralsportsfan.com