Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will be the 12th and final member of the U.S. men’s basketball team as they prepare for the Paris Olympics, per USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt.
Earlier today, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid; Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton; Minnesota Timberwolves wing Anthony Edwards; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo; Suns guard Devin Booker; Celtics guard Jrue Holiday; and Lakers hybrid big Anthony Davis were also revealed to be on Team USA’s roster.
Paris Olympics: Final Team USA Basketball Member Revealed
Frankly, Leonard has had a quiet season. Nonetheless, he remains one of the game’s top talents. Arguably the best two-way player in the league, the 32-year-old averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game in the 2023-24 regular season. An efficient scorer that excels at getting to his spots, he shot 52.5 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from 3.
The 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Leonard has had a storied career since leaving San Diego State.
Starting his career off as a defensive specialist, Leonard evolved into a go-to scorer almost out of necessity. With the San Antonio Spurs core aging, Leonard steadily increased his offensive output. This culminated in him averaging 24.1 points per game in his final three playoff runs with the Spurs. For comparison, he averaged 13.5 points per game in the first three.
Leonard was then traded to the Toronto Raptors. Though he spent one season with the Raptors, Leonard brought them their first championship in franchise history. Leaving Toronto to head home, the California native has been with the Clippers ever since.
Few players in league history have his resume and ability, let alone active players. With that said, the two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year is a tremendous asset for Team USA.
