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Tim Bontemps, ESPN
Crew USA coach Steve Kerr stated Thursday that each one 12 gamers chosen for the Olympic crew — together with LA Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard — will likely be current and capable of take part when coaching camp begins in Las Vegas subsequent week.
“We have been in communication consistently,” Kerr stated on a convention name with reporters. “So we count on all 12 guys to be able to roll.”
Leonard, who will flip 33 on Saturday, missed the ultimate three video games of the Clippers’ season after his surgically repaired proper knee did not reply how he hoped it will in Sport 3 of the Clippers’ first-round collection towards the Dallas Mavericks. It was the fourth straight season he noticed his playoffs finish prematurely — or not occur in any respect — due to an harm.
“We’re going to get it proper,” he advised reporters after enjoying 25 minutes in that sport towards the eventual Western Convention champions. “Time will inform. However we’re doing all the proper issues.”
One factor that harm seemingly did not do was knock Leonard out of taking part with Crew USA, one thing that had been at the very least puzzled about in NBA circles over the previous few weeks.
Kerr made it clear that he anticipated Leonard and everybody else on the crew to be obtainable as soon as coaching camp begins July 6.
“We have been monitoring this all alongside,” Kerr stated. “We’ve been in contact with Kawhi and his individuals, and he is been figuring out now the final couple of weeks. So that is, clearly each roster spot is essential. You simply by no means understand how this stuff are gonna play out, with accidents, issues can occur, you simply do not know. So we’re in contact with all people, and we’ll proceed to remain in contact with the entire group as we head into Vegas subsequent week. And also you by no means understand how issues play out. There’s all the time an opportunity for change.
“So I might go away every part on the market as a risk, based mostly on accidents, based mostly on preparation, no matter it’s. However at this level, we absolutely count on all 12 guys to be able to go.”
That additionally contains Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a hamstring harm that ended his season within the Jap Convention finals towards the Boston Celtics. However Haliburton, whereas admitting he initially was involved about having the ability to take part, stated Thursday that he is again to regular and absolutely able to go for camp.
“I will be sincere, I feel when that occurred towards Boston and I knew I would not play the remainder of the collection, there was a bit little bit of concern for me,” stated Haliburton, who had beforehand injured the identical hamstring in January. “However I feel that our medical crew simply did an awesome job of reassuring me that they’d religion that I’d be nice for this second and if I did the suitable issues, form of balancing relaxation, however on the similar time strengthening it as effectively. As a result of I took day off from basketball, did not contact a basketball for 3 weeks, however attempting to do motion, strengthening as effectively, since you gotta form of do all of it.
“So I really feel assured about it. I’d say over the past, like, two weeks, I imply, ever since they stated they did not have considerations, that allowed me to not actually have any. Now that I am actually touching a basketball, transferring so much, I do not actually have any concern.”
Along with the questions on harm availability heading into camp, the opposite lingering query is which 5 gamers Kerr will begin from a star-laden roster. Kerr stated that it is one thing that continues to be up within the air and that the Las Vegas coaching camp will assist decide it.
“It is an awesome query, and my workers and I’ve talked about it fairly a bit,” Kerr stated. “It is a good drawback to have, however I am guessing that each one 12 gamers on this roster will likely be within the Corridor of Fame sometime. So how do you choose 5 out of 12? The thought is you discover mixtures that click on and, and you discover two-way lineups that may be efficient at each ends.
“So our huge job in Las Vegas is to seek out five-man mixtures that match and to only ask all 12 guys to completely decide to the aim of successful a gold medal it doesn’t matter what it seems like, regardless of who’s enjoying.”
