LAS VEGAS – Kawhi Leonard was missing – again.
After a season in which the former San Antonio star played just nine games because of a quadriceps injury, then stayed away from his teammates during the NBA playoffs as the mystery of his uncertain future grew, Leonard was a no-show at the Team USA minicamp which began Wednesday and concludes Friday at UNLV.
So much for the awkward scene that might have unfolded if he had shown up to work with first-year national team coach Gregg Popovich.
It was just eight days ago that Leonard was traded from the Spurs to Toronto. Before then, Team USA officials were under the impression that Leonard was coming. Yet once that blockbuster deal went down, there was no more need for Leonard to showcase his health to the many teams that were pursuing him.
But according to national team managing director Jerry Colangelo, Leonard’s absence will have no impact on his chances of making the 12-man roster for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China or the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Ditto for the 11 other no-shows from the 35-man invitee list.
“No, no – again this is not a mandatory camp,” Colangelo told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s No. 1. If this were mandatory, we’d have to weigh all these things about every individual. There are a number of guys who aren’t here for various reasons, and obviously we don’t have to make any decisions at all at this point.
“This is just to get a read on a lot of things. I never say never to anything or anyone.”
WILL LEBRON SHOW?
Leonard wasn’t the only notable absence, as LeBron James was among a group of stars who didn’t take part.
But according to Colangelo, the Lakers’ coveted addition might be paying a visit Friday. James already is in town to watch his 13-year-old son, LeBron Jr., in the Big Foot Hoops Las Vegas Classic.
“He’s been preoccupied with watching his son play in Vegas in these games, so he’s been busy with family business,” Colangelo said. “But he has a lot of equity with us (the national program). And you know that’s a big word with me – (especially with) guys who have been around for a long time.”
While James hasn’t played with the national team since winning gold at the London Olympics in 2012, he told USA TODAY Sports in the summer of 2016 that the prospect of playing for Popovich might be enough to inspire a return to the global stage.
As Colangelo sees it, James still is a part of the Team USA talent pool.
“Oh, I think there’s definitely a chance that he’s going to take part,” he said.
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