Reports: Clippers' Leonard gets spot on Olympic team
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, if healthy, will make his Olympic debut this summer after reportedly being named to the 12th and final roster spot for Team USA ahead of the Paris Games.
Leonard said recently he was happy to be considered for the upcoming event after earning a spot ahead o the postponed Tokyo Games in 2020.
“It's great. Just them seeing my hard work, seeing I've been progressing and I'm happy to be a finalist,” he said.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, was set to make his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games before they were postponed until 2021, but the six-time All-Star dropped out because of previous obligations.
USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill met with most of the 12 invitees on the 2024 Olympic team over the past few days, but Leonard's participation wasn't secured until Tuesday, according to ESPN, which was the first to report it.
Leonard's late addition completes a roster that includes Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, along with Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Suns guard Devin Booker, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Celtics guard Jrue Holiday and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo.
The biggest question mark is whether Leonard will be healthy for the Olympics, which start in July. He has missed the Clippers' final eight regular-season games because of inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee and his status for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday remains unclear.
PLAY-IN GLANCE FIRST ROUND
Kings KO Warriors in play-in round
Keegan Murray scored 32 points, De'Aaron Fox added 24 and the Sacramento Kings stayed alive in the play-in tournament, eliminating the Golden State Warriors with a 118-94 victory.
Sacramento advanced to play at New Orleans on Friday night with a chance to return to the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference after snapping an NBA record 16-year playoff drought last season.
The Kings avenged a Game 7 loss at home to Golden State in last year's
Sacramento's Keegan Murray scored 32 points in the Kings' play-in victory over the Warriors.
Tuesday's results
Lakers 110, Pelicans 106 Kings 118, Warriors 94
Today's games
Heat at 76ers, 4 p.m. Hawks at Bulls, 6:30 p.m.
SECOND ROUND
Hawks/Bulls winner at Heat/76ers loser, 4 p.m.
Kings at Pelicans, 6:30 p.m.
first round by playing cleaner and being quicker to loose balls against the older Warriors in what was one of the most consequential wins for the franchise in two decades.
The loss kept Golden State out of the playoffs for the third time in the past five seasons, including two eliminations in the play-in tournament. The Warriors committed 16 turnovers, gave up 15 offensive rebounds and way too many open 3-pointers, looking nothing like the dynastic team that won four titles from 2015-22.
Klay Thompson missed all 10 shots from the field and Stephen Curry didn't get nearly enough help. Curry finished with 22 points but was hounded for much of the game by Keon Ellis.
Former Clippers star Griffin retires
Blake Griffin announced his retirement Tuesday after a 14-year career that included six All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year honors and a dunk contest victory.
Griffin said in a social media post that he's “thankful for every single moment” of his career. He was the No. 1 overall pick by the Clippers out of Oklahoma in 2009. He missed his first season with a knee injury, but rebounded to earn the Rookie of the Year award in 2011, when he also won the All-Star Game dunk contest.