The controversy surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s withdrawal from Team USA’s training pool continues to unfold where Los Angeles Clippers president Lawrence Frank expressed disappointment over the decision. However, Frank’s statement has sparked a heated debate, with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith criticizing the Clippers’ stance.
Respectfully Lawrence Frank, come on! How could anyone who roots for the @LAClippers possibly feel this way, knowing this man is perennially unhealthy, having missed 60% of the playoffs as a Clipper. His greatness is not a question. His health is always a question. So how can any member of the Clippers be disappointed, knowing how much he’s needed. Come on! Stephen A. Smith wrote on x
https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/status/1813029646507909530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1813029646507909530%7Ctwgr%5E6d0b2cddbf5297fa4c1e38f9b7bc7ef98633a88b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffirstsportz.com%2Fclippers-president-disappointed-usa-basketball-account-kawhi-leonard-withdrawal-from-olympics-roster%2F
Leonard’s injury history is a significant factor in this controversy. A freak injury in 2017 has left him with a degenerative knee issue, forcing the Clippers to manage his playing workload.
The situation has sparked a heated debate about Leonard’s availability and the expectations surrounding his participation with Team USA. However, his replacement Derrick White should be more than able to fit in, even though it stirred up its own controversy which has now been sq
uashed.
