Two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers has withdrawn from Team USA, USA Basketball announced on Wednesday. Derrick White of the Boston Celtics will fill his roster slot and play for the national team at the upcoming 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

"Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the last several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas. He felt ready to compete," the United States basketball governing body said in a statement. "However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it's in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris."

Leonard made 68 appearances, the third-most in his 13-year NBA career, for the Clippers in the 2023-24 regular season, and averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. However, he played only two games for the team in the postseason before being ruled due to a right knee injury. His side lost to the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the Western Conference first-round playoffs.

According to Leonard, he had been rehabbing his right knee in the past two months and knew for sure that he could play only two weeks ago. He has never played for USA at the Olympics.

White won the NBA championship with the Celtics and earned an All-Defensive Second Team nod. Compared with Leonard, who performs major scoring duty via isolation, White is more of a premium role player who does a bit of everything on both offense and defense. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game during the regular season.

"I am happy to announce that Derrick will compete at his first Olympic Games on the heels of a championship season in Boston," USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill said. "We look forward to him joining the team in the coming days as we continue preparations for Paris."