San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard is officially a member of the 24-man pool that gets the chance to play for Team USA in the 2014 FIBA World Cup tournament in Spain. Though Leonard expressed his happiness in being selected to the group in a report from Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News on Sunday, he might have to miss Team USA's upcoming July mini-camp in Las Vegas to get his left knee healthy again.
Kawhi Leonard invited to Team USA mini-camp, may not participate
Leonard’s lingering knee issues may force him to miss July’s team camp in Las Vegas.
USA TODAY Sports
Leonard has been playing through tendinitis in the knee for a good portion of the season. In the report, he says he hasn’t decided whether or not he’ll participate in the mini-camp yet:
“I know that camp is going to be fun, but I’m still debating if I’m going to go this summer. I’ve got to get my knee healthy this offseason. That’s the most important thing for me this summer.”
After getting noticed as a member of the USA Basketball Select Team a summer ago by the likes of Team USA executive director Jerry Colangelo, Leonard joins a list of young, up-and-coming stars across the league, including Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving and Portland Trail Blazers 2013 Rookie of the Year point guard Damian Lillard, that also received invites to the mini-camp.
Leonard has been an always-improving, versatile scorer and defender for San Antonio since they drafted him in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. This postseason, he was instrumental in the eventual corralling of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Offensively, he is averaging 13.2 points per game in the playoffs, shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from three-point range. He's also getting 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals a night.
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