Team USA’s quest for a gold medal in the upcoming Olympics just took a significant hit even before it started. This is after Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard pulled out of the squad because of injury.
USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill has now spoken out about this development and the former NBA superstar got brutally honest about Leonard’s sudden exit.
Team USA News: Kawhi Leonard Dealing With Right Knee Injury
Speaking to reporters in a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s exhibition game against Canada, Hill revealed that it was a joint decision by all parties involved to strip Leonard of his spot in the national squad:
“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, via Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “We tried. I think we all tried and we gave it a valiant effort, and unfortunately, we have to move forward.”
Leonard’s injury is reportedly the same one that forced him to miss the Clippers’ last three games of their first-round post-season matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Apparently, despite his desire to suit up for the Red, White, and Blue, Kawhi’s body just had other ideas:
“I think he wanted to be here, like all these guys want to be here, and we don’t take that lightly at all,” Hill said. “It speaks to the program and the opportunity, and so, personally speaking, I know what it’s like to want to do something and your body’s just not right. And I’ve lived that personally. And so I applaud him for coming here and being willing to sacrifice, give up his summer and represent our country and play for our program. … Ultimately, it didn’t work out.”
Kawhi Leonard Was ‘Sent Home’
Hill was probed by reporters about the nature of Leonard’s departure. When the high-ranking USAB executive was asked straightforwardly if it was the national squad’s decision to remove him from the team, Hill responded honestly:
“We did. Ultimately he was sent home, but we were in conversation with the Clippers on that,” Hill confirmed.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White will be taking Leonard’s place on the roster.
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