Kawhi Leonard received’t at all times have Paris, and Lawrence Frank isn’t happy about it.
The Clippers president of basketball operations expressed his displeasure days after USA Basketball decided it was in Leonard’s “finest curiosity” to take a seat out the 2024 Olympics on account of lingering knee points.
“It was USAB’s name, and I used to be, fairly frankly, very disillusioned with the choice,” Frank informed reporters in Las Vegas on Monday. “Kawhi wished to play. We wished him to play.”
The 2-time Finals MVP was changed by the Celtics’ Derrick White after final week’s coaching camp for the workforce.
Leonard completed the 2024 NBA season battling power knee soreness and irritation, which sidelined him for the Clippers closing three playoff video games.
Previous to being reduce, Leonard participated within the early practices of Workforce USA’s four-day camp — with Frank in attendance.
“He appeared superb, was a full participant in all the things that they did,” Frank mentioned. “I wasn’t there for the third apply, the place in the end, that was the purpose the place they determined to go in a distinct path. I expressed then, I actually wished that they might have given Kawhi extra time.”
Over the 4 years he has been a Clipper, Frank has witnessed the plethora of accidents Leonard has been plagued with.
In 2021, he suffered a torn ACL in the course of the Western Convention semifinals, which brought about him to take a seat out your complete 2021-22 marketing campaign rehabbing.
Leonard suffered a torn meniscus within the first spherical of the 2023 playoffs earlier than sustaining his most up-to-date knee harm.
Realizing his prior accidents, the group thought he was in adequate form to play.
“We benefit from having been round Kawhi for 5 years to see his physique, see the place he’s at. He appeared good to me,” Frank mentioned. “I do know all of the sacrifices he made with a purpose to make this dedication to the Olympics. So it was very disappointing.”
Frank nonetheless managed to digest the scenario regardless of the overflow of disappointment.
“I perceive USAB’s perspective that they’ve to take a look at what they really feel is in the perfect curiosity of the workforce, regardless of what I believe,” he mentioned.
“They’re additionally managing another gamers who’re coping with accidents, so, I perceive that they need to do what’s finest. … You need to transfer ahead. We help USAB. Desperately wish to see them win the gold medal. I do know that’s how Kawhi feels, too.”
