USA Basketball stated on Wednesday that Kawhi Leonard, the forward from the Los Angeles Clippers, will no longer be part of the men’s basketball Olympic roster.

“After participating in training sessions over the past several weeks and showing strong performances in Las Vegas,” a USA Basketball statement explained, “Kawhi Leonard felt prepared to compete. However, he and both USA Basketball and the Clippers agreed that it would be more beneficial for him to focus on preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris.”

Leonard, known for his basketball prowess, was expected to join other prominent American players at the Paris Olympics but has been beset by injuries throughout his career. In recent seasons, Leonard’s playing time has been managed carefully, a strategy often referred to as “load management,” to ensure his fitness during critical parts of the season.

He struggled with a knee injury late in the 2023-24 season, which caused him to miss several games during the Clippers’ playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.

USA Basketball promptly announced that Derrick White, the point guard from the Boston Celtics, would replace Leonard on the Olympic roster.

At 33 years old, Leonard has completed his 12th NBA season, having previously played for the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors. He boasts two NBA championship titles, winning with the Spurs in 2014 and with the Raptors in 2019.

The announcement came shortly after the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee initially included Leonard in the 592-member US Olympic Team set to compete in Paris. This would have marked Leonard’s debut in the Olympics after being named a finalist for the 2016 and 2020 teams.