All smiles for @usabasketball game day 🇺🇸: With Derrick White replacing Kawhi on Team USA, there are now THREE Celtics players headed to Paris

USA Basketball has confirmed that Los Angeles Clippers player Kawhi Leonard will not participate in Paris 2024. Derrick White, the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics guard, will replace him for Team USA.

Kawhi Leonard, 2020 NBA Playoffs

According to a press release, both Team USA and the Clippers decided it was best for the six-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion to spend his summer training for the next season.

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.

Kawhi Leonard, 2024 USA Basketball Men's National Team practice session

He battled this ailment during the 2023-24 season, competing in 68 games and garnering All NBA Second Team recognition. Leonard’s season was cut short yet again, as he missed the Clippers’ final playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks due to right-knee soreness. May be an image of 3 people, people playing basketball, basketball jersey and text

“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.

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White is coming off the best season of his career, where he played a key role in the Celtics’ championship drive and earned his second consecutive NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. In 73 games, the 30-year-old averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, shooting 39.6% from three on just under seven attempts per game. White was a member of the 2019 FIBA World Cup squad, which finished eighth.

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“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.