USA Basketball made the call to send Kawhi Leonard home in the 'best interest' of the team: 'We had to pivot'

Kawhi Leonard withdrew from Team USA ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Emmanuel Acho believes Leonard's legacy has been ruined.

The decision to replace Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard just weeks ahead of the Paris Olympics was ultimately made in the "best interest" of the U.S. men’s national team, USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill said Wednesday. 

In a press conference ahead of Team USA’s exhibition match against Canada at T-Mobile Arena, Grant addressed the situation. He clarified that the decision had been ultimately made by USA basketball on Tuesday, with input from the Clippers. 

Grant Hill looks on during the game between Team USA and Team Canada on July 10, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

"We just felt that we had to pivot, and not to get into the particulars in terms of what went into the decision, but we just felt it was in our best interest, but also in the Clippers' and Kawhi's best interest, to move into a different direction," he said.

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"We tried. I think we all tried, and we gave it a valiant effort, and unfortunately, we have to move forward."

When pressed further about the decision-making, Hill confirmed that USA Basketball had made the call to send Leonard home. 

"We did. Ultimately, he was sent home, but we were in conversation with the Clippers on that."

Kawhi Leonard, #8 of the 2024 USA Basketball Men's National Team, walks on the court after a practice session during the team's training camp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on July 8, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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