Kawhi Leonard’s Olympic Dreams Crushed: Clippers President Lawrence Frank Speaks Out

Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank expressed his disappointment and frustration after Kawhi Leonard was removed from Team USA’s Olympics roster. Frank spoke with reporters in Las Vegas on Monday, stating that the decision was made by USA Basketball and not the Clippers.

"It was USAB’s call, and I was, quite frankly, very disappointed with the decision," Frank said. "Kawhi wanted to play. We wanted him to play."

Leonard, a six-time All-NBA selection and two-time Finals MVP, was initially selected to play for Team USA in his first Olympic Games. However, USA Basketball announced that it was replacing him with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

Frank watched Leonard in USA Basketball’s early practices and thought he looked "very good." He was present for the first two practices, but not the third, where the decision was made to release Leonard.

"I was there the first two practices," Frank said. "He looked very good, was a full participant in everything that they did. 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."

Frank acknowledged that Team USA has to make decisions that are in the best interests of the team, but he was still disappointed by the outcome.

"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. I know all the sacrifices he made in order to make this commitment to the Olympics. So it was very disappointing," Frank said.

Team USA edged Australia, 98-92, on Monday in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi while playing without Kevin Durant. The team previously beat Canada in an exhibition in Las Vegas on July 10.

Frank will be supporting USA Basketball during the Olympics, despite his disappointment with the decision to release Leonard.