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New York Post
Team USA’s Kawhi Leonard call left Clippers’ Lawrence Frank ‘very disappointed’
By Sean Savage,
4 hours ago
Kawhi Leonard won’t always have Paris, and Lawrence Frank isn’t pleased about it.
The Clippers president of basketball operations expressed his displeasure days after USA Basketball determined it was in Leonard’s “best interest” to sit out the 2024 Olympics due to lingering knee issues.
“It was USAB’s call, and I was, quite frankly, very disappointed with the decision,” Frank told reporters in Las Vegas on Monday. “Kawhi wanted to play. We wanted him to play.”
Prior to being cut, Leonard participated in the early practices of Team USA’s four-day camp — with Frank in attendance.
“He looked very good, was a full participant in everything that they did,” Frank said. “I wasn’t there for the third practice, where ultimately, that was the point where they decided to go in a different direction. I expressed then, I really wished that they would have given Kawhi more time.”
Knowing his prior injuries, the organization thought he was in good enough shape to play.
Leonard has struggled with knee issues in recent years. AP
“We have the benefit of having been around Kawhi for five years to see his body, see where he’s at. He looked good to me,” Frank said. “I know all the sacrifices he made in order to make this commitment to the Olympics. So it was very disappointing.”
Frank still managed to digest the situation despite the overflow of disappointment.
“I understand USAB’s perspective that they have to look at what they feel is in the best interest of the team, despite what I think,” he said.
“They’re also managing some other players who are dealing with injuries, so, I understand that they have to do what’s best. … You have to move forward. We support USAB. Desperately want to see them win the gold medal. I know that’s how Kawhi feels, too.”
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