Steve Kerr confirms that Kawhi Leonard will join Team USA in training camp

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are less than a month away and Team USA's training camp is just around the corner. That's why coach Steve Kerr spoke to the media on Thursday and confirmed that all 12 players selected to represent the nation will be there when next week starts in Las Vegas.

The only real doubt is whether Kawhi Leonard, who could play the last three games of the Clippers' season with an injury, will be able to attend camp. However, the Golden State tactician confirmed that he has recovered and is ready to go.

“We have been in constant communication,” he told reporters during the meeting. So we expect all 12 guys to be ready to roll. The 33-year-old has responded well since undergoing surgery on his right knee in April.

Kawhi Leonard is expected to participate fully in Team USA's 2024 Paris Olympics camp, @TomerAzarly. pic.twitter.com/aghvcrnr7f

– NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) June 27, 2024

It was none other than Lawrence Frank who confirmed that Kawhi is fit to play in Paris next month. “This is an opportunity that he has been looking for for a long time, so he is rehabbing and coming back,” said the president of the Clippers who works in basketball. “But all he's focused on from the injury is getting healthy and his goal is to play in the Olympics.

“This is the opportunity he has been looking for, so he is preparing and coming back. But all he's focused on from the injury is getting healthy and his goal is to play in the Olympics. He's like raising you and his biggest concern, all of our concerns, is long-term health. “

Leonard has earned a reputation for being a star who misses out when his team needs him most, as happened back when the Raptors won the NBA title in 2019, and a few years ago when the Clippers entered the playoffs. That is why the veteran will not commit to anything that could put his life at risk.

“Therefore, he will not do anything that will put his life at risk for a long time. He doesn't just want to be ready for the Olympics, he wants to be ready to have a good season next year and he wants to have a long career. His focus and his mind day after day. He has made significant progress and continues to get there,” added Frank.

Tyrese Haliburton is another star who has been recovering from injury this summer, but now he's confirming that he'll be ready for training camp.

The Team USA coach dismissed the idea that the Los Angeles star is still struggling with his repaired knee, and confirmed that he is in constant contact with the player and knows that he is healthy at the camp in Las Vegas, since July. 6.

“… Obviously every roster spot is important,” Kerr said. “You never know how these things will play out, with injuries, things can happen, you never know. So we're in touch with everybody, and we'll continue to be in touch with the whole team as we head into Vegas next week. And you never know how things turn out. There is always room for change.”

The same thing happened to Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a hamstring injury that also ended his campaign in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. The Indiana guard initially admitted he was concerned about his health, but later confirmed Thursday that he is back to normal and ready to go.

“I'll be honest, I think when that happened against Boston and I knew I wasn't going to play the rest of the series, there was a little bit of concern for me,” said the Pacers star, who was tired of seeing his team. The team lost to the champions back in May.