Staff USA coach Steve Kerr stated Thursday that every one 12 gamers chosen for the Olympic group — together with LA Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard — will likely be current and in a position to take part when coaching camp begins in Las Vegas subsequent week.
“We have been in communication always,” Kerr stated on a convention name with reporters. “So we anticipate 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 sequence 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 Staff USA, one thing that had been a minimum of questioned about in NBA circles over the previous few weeks.
Kerr made it clear that he anticipated Leonard and everybody else on the group to be accessible as soon as coaching camp begins July 6.
“We have been monitoring this all alongside,” Kerr stated. “We’ve got been in contact with Kawhi and his individuals, and he is been understanding now the final couple of weeks. So that is, clearly each roster spot is essential. You simply by no means understand how these items 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 would go away the whole lot on the market as a risk, based mostly on accidents, based mostly on preparation, no matter it’s. However at this level, we absolutely anticipate all 12 guys to be able to go.”
That additionally consists of 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 with 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 sequence, there was a bit of little bit of concern for me,” stated Haliburton, who had beforehand injured the identical hamstring in January. “However I feel that our medical group simply did a fantastic job of reassuring me that they’d religion that I’d be positive for this second and if I did the suitable issues, type of balancing relaxation, however on the identical time strengthening it as properly. As a result of I took time without work from basketball, did not contact a basketball for 3 weeks, however attempting to do motion, strengthening as properly, since you gotta type of do all of it.
“So I really feel assured about it. I’d say during the last, like, two weeks, I imply, ever since they stated they did not have issues, that allowed me to not actually have any. Now that I am actually touching a basketball, shifting quite a bit, 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 a fantastic 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 every 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 profitable a gold medal it doesn’t matter what it seems to be like, irrespective of who’s enjoying.”