"You were a liability from the very start"- NBA analyst lambasts Kawhi Leonard's attempt to suit up for Team USA amid injury exit

On the day of their first showcase game, news surfaced that Kawhi Leonard will no longer be playing for Team USA this summer. Following this decision, one analyst questioned why he attempted to suit up in the first place.

Leonard got through training camp, but he and Team USA thought it was best for him not to travel and compete in the Olympics. The former Finals MVP had been dealing with chronic knee soreness, which led to his withdrawal.

During Thursday's episode of "First Take," the panel discussed Kawhi Leonard not partaking in the Olympics. This led to Courtney Cronin blasting the LA Clippers star for agreeing to play given his injury history.

"You were a liability from the very start," Cronin said. "You knew that you weren't healthy."

"From the very jump he knew that he probably wasn't going to be able to last this stretch run."

Leonard's decision to play for Team USA came after an NBA season that ended in injury for him. After missing the final eight games of the regular season, he was sidelined for a majority of the Clippers' first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks.

With Leonard no longer in the mix, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has been named as his replacement for the 2024 Olympics.

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Steph Curry speaks on Kawhi Leonard withdrawing from Team USA

Among the players to speak on Kawhi Leonard not playing in the Olympics was Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors star was adamant about Kawhi's desire to play and hopes the All-Star forward can consistently be on the floor in the future.

"I know he wanted to play," Curry said. "It's one of those things where he wished us luck and wanted us to go get the gold."

"Hopefully for the long term he's in a good place because the game needs him. When he's not out there, you miss an all-time great player."

Even with Kawhi Leonard no longer playing, Team USA is still in a good position to win a gold medal. Among the superstars on the roster are Curry, Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Team USA might not have replaced Leonard with another star-caliber player, but White is an ideal fit for this roster. He is a productive two-way guard who is capable of doing just about anything on the floor. More importantly, he knows how to play off of star talent. Last season with the Boston Celtics he averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 40% from three.

Losing Leonard is a loss for Team USA, but it is something the group should be able to overcome. Now, the Clippers star can put all his energy into being ready for the start of the 2025 season.