Democratic party sympathizer George Karl makes Joe Biden appeal as Kawhi Leonard news comes to light: "It's your turn"
Not many could have predicted Kawhi Leonard's decision to withdraw from USA Basketball, as he had been present in the preparations since the first day of training camp. Amid the latest development, legendary NBA coach George Karl called out US President Joe Biden to mimic the same decision made by Leonard.
The former Seattle Supersonics coach posted back then about his lack of confidence in Biden's physical condition, the same way he doesn't believe in Donald Trump's vision and character for the country.
When it comes to the Clippers star, he has a long history of extensive injuries that have hampered his progress over the years. Given his inconsistent availability throughout his career, the announcement came as no surprise to George Karl.
"Unsurprising re Kawhi," Karl posted. "Now it's your turn to do the same, Biden."
Following the latest announcement, Derrick White has been named as the replacement, as per Marc J. Spears. White may not be at the same level as a two-way superstar like Kawhi Leonard. However, this year's Team USA roster already has a lot of top offensive talent, and adding another versatile player like Jrue Holiday brings even more flexibility to the team.
White has already proven that he's one of the premier defenders in the league with a reliable jumper from beyond the arc.
Team USA Basketball released statement on Kawhi Leonard
The LA Clippers have already made some eventful moves to shake up the roster. Amid all the moves made, Kawhi Leonard remains untouched as the franchise star of the team.
However, he has come up short of leading his team in the playoffs due to injuries. A statement was released following the decision to spend the rest of his summer getting in the proper condition for the 2024–25 regular season.
"Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas," USA Basketball said. "He felt ready to compete. 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."
This exit allows Leonard to get even more rest as he looks to lead a new-look LA Clippers team.
Last season, Kawhi Leonard played in 68 games, where he averaged 23.7 points (52.5% shooting, including 41.7% from 3-point range), 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.