Steve Kerr gives injury updates on Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Haliburton and Joel Embiid ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics camp
Steve Kerr has provided updates on the availability of injured stars Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Haliburton ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Much to Team USA basketball fans' delight, the All-Star trio will be ready to go ahead of training camp that begins in Las Vegas next week.
Leonard was iffy to play after missing the last few weeks of the regular season with a right knee inflammation, where he had an ACL surgery after the 2020-21 season. He returned to play in the 2024 playoffs for two of the six games in the Clippers' first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks.
However, Leonard was far from being 100% healthy and struggled heavily before being shut down after Game 3.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid missed four weeks of action in the regular season with a left knee MCL sprain. He returned for the final week and played in the playoffs but seemingly hadn't recovered fully. There were concerns about his participation in the Olympics because of it.
On the other hand, Tyrese Haliburton's season finished with a left hamstring injury. Haliburton aggravated the injury, which he initially sustained in January in Game 2 of the conference finals against the Boston Celtics and missed the remaining two games.
Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard expected to make key contributions
Team USA is stacked with incredible star depth, giving coach Steve Kerr and his staff a good headache regarding the team's starting lineup and rotations. Joel Embiid is likely the starting center on the team, while Kawhi Leonard may come off the bench and play in rotation with the frontcourt pairing of LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Embiid and Leonard provide the physicality and toughness required at the international level, which would be critical in the non-starter minutes. Embiid provides more spacing in the starting lineup, while Leonard off the bench will help maintain the scoring and defense.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton, who was a key contributor during the FIBA World Cup, might see limited minutes with Steph Curry set to be the starting point guard, Devin Booker or Anthony Edwards starting at the two and Jrue Holiday likely being the preferred option off the bench because of his defense.
Nevertheless, that's the luxury Team USA will have during the 2024 Paris Olympics, which they may look to use fully and rotate the squad based on their opposition. Haliburton could come in handy with his past exploits at the international level, having gained some experience at the FIBA World Cup last year.