LeBron James Shares Heartfelt Message for Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard, the star of the USA Basketball Team and the LA Clippers, has made the difficult decision to part ways ahead of the Paris Olympics. After attending a training camp with Team USA in Las Vegas, Leonard was left out of the Olympics and replaced by Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White.

Leonard is dealing with inflammation in his right knee that first appeared late in the 2023-24 regular season and limited his playoff availability. Apparently not fully recovered from the knee issue, Leonard will continue to work toward getting back to 100 percent health for next season.

Speaking to reporters, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was asked about Leonard having to leave the team, saying he was still a brother and his health was all that mattered.

“He’s a brother of ours,” James said. “He’s part of the brotherhood whether he’s here or not. He’s got to take care of himself and that’s all that matters.”

It’s a frustrating situation for Leonard, who has lost a lot of playing time to injuries over the past few seasons. That said, the Clippers star has been one of the best players in basketball when he’s been available, and that availability is something he’s trying to maximize next season with this decision to opt out of the Olympics.

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