PLAYA VISTA — Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, if healthy, will make his Olympic debut this summer after reportedly being named to the 12th and final roster spot for Team USA ahead of the Paris Games.
Leonard said recently he was happy to be considered for the upcoming event after earning a spot ahead o the postponed Tokyo Games in 2020.
“It’s great. Just them seeing my hard work, seeing I’ve been progressing and I’m happy to be a finalist,” he said.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP was set to make his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games before they were postponed until 2021, but the six-time All-Star dropped out because of previous obligations.
USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill met with most of the 12 invitees on the 2024 Olympic team over the past few days, but Leonard’s participation wasn’t secured until Tuesday, according to ESPN, which was the first to report it.
Leonard’s late addition completes a roster that includes Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, along with Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Suns guard Devin Booker, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Celtics guard Jrue Holiday and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo.
The biggest question mark is whether Leonard will be healthy for the Olympics, which start in July. He has missed the Clippers’ final eight regular-season games because of inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee and his status for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday remains unclear.
The Olympic team will be coached by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Gonzaga coach Mark Few will serve as his assistants.
The Paris Olympics begin July 26 and the U.S. is expected to have a training camp and a preseason tour before departing for France.
Leonard is averaging 23.7 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Clippers this season.
Tatum, Durant, Booker, Holiday and Adebayo return from the team that won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The Paris Games will be the first Olympics for Curry, who was expected to play for Team USA in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, but opted out because of knee and ankle injuries. This will also be the first Olympics for Embiid, who committed in October to play for Team USA over France and his native Cameroon. Embiid holds dual citizenship between USA and France.
The past three major international basketball tournaments have been in Asia, and scheduling changes and the COVID pandemic have made getting commitments from superstar players challenging for Team USA.
Hill has said playing in the 2023 World Cup was not a requirement to be considered for the Olympic team.
The Olympic team will be coached by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Gonzaga coach Mark Few will serve as his assistants.
The U.S. is expected to have a training camp and a preseason tour before departing for France.
Leonard, who is averaging 23.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, was limited during Tuesday’s practice, participating in just a “quarter” of the drills, according to Lue.
