Steph Curry has addressed Kawhi Leonard’s sudden removal from Team USA, which came just two weeks out from the Olympics.
Leonard did not appear to be entirely healthy when he reported for national duty, and this week Team USA made the decision to send him home in favour of Derrick White.
“I know he wanted to play,” Curry told reporters. “Hopefully, for the long term, he’s in a good place because the game needs him. When he’s not out there, you miss an all-time great player. We hope he’s ready for this season.”
Team USA executive director Grant Hill said Leonard being sent home was the team’s decision.
“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 on Wednesday. “We tried. I think we all tried and we gave it a valiant effort, and unfortunately, we have to move forward.”
Leonard has attracted criticism, including from ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, for attempting to play in the Olympics despite regularly struggling to get through an NBA season healthy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more pissed off at a dude wearing Team USA uniform,” Smith said on The OGs podcast. “Remember how excited he was when they came to him and Grant Hill and them put him on Team USA? Do you know how many games you’ve missed?
“To be talking about playing in the summer, you might get hurt from the flight to Paris. I’m not letting you play. If I’m Steve Ballmer, I will use every means at my disposal to make sure this man ain’t on Team USA. For one reason and one reason only, I don’t trust that you’re going to leave healthy.”
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