Team USA replacing Kawhi Leonard was a multifaceted decision 👀 - Brian Windhorst | Get Up

Brian Windhorst joins Mike Greenberg on Get Up to explain the thought process behind Kawhi Leonard withdrawing from Team USA ahead of their exhibition games in Abu Dhabi given Kevin Durant's own injury return timeline.
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[@Zatora11]

my boy windhorst need to stick to the polos

[@blakemonroe5160]

That’s a Moncler too

[@ragnarwillz4115]

@@blakemonroe5160nah that’s obviously nautica

[@leetraviusmckay314]

"it's about to be a ghost town in the Clippers stadium" 😂

[@That1kid68]

Looks like the TSA scammers got Windy smh

[@MrKDollarSign]

How does ESPN and/or USA basketball not give Windy some apparel. I’m guessing he’ll expense the Amazon shopping cost to ESPN, but still

[@FailedNBAComissioner]

That Luggage is in a Fox Sports warehouse.

[@terrencesteele753]

👀

[@FlyWithMe_666]

BRONNY should be the obvious replacement!!

[@jiggayoshi]

LMAO CHILLL

[@jasondaley718]

Wipe your mouth sheesh..yt ppl get so weird online

[@jgard1168]

Say anything for attention

[@nsd_respect]

They left out a generational talent. So disappointed.

[@nsd_respect]

@@jasondaley718brons3xual much?

[@chris3141084]

Clippers were hoping Kawhi got hurt so they can have their insurance pay his salary and get an injured player exemption

[@jgard1168]

They would lose more money hoping he’d get hurt Are you $low ?

[@chris3141084]

@@jgard1168 how? It’s insurance. If doctors say he can’t play they can apply for an exemption. And they get a quality player with an injured player exemption. Ticket buyers aren’t expecting him to play he’s always hurt.

[@jgard1168]

@@chris3141084 they just got a new stadium They need him to be healthy to bring people into those seats Ticket sales Merchandise sales Potential play off bonus for team If he’s healthy players will come to La to play and for other opportunities So yeah they need him to be healthy 😂🤡

[@reasedogable]

@@chris3141084wrong

[@I.am_Groot]

Um nah.

[@kwilliams1958]

Windy provides great analysis and nuances of how a roster is formed and makes sure not to offend anyone listening (LOL); truly, many will never understand or care to understand how a roster is structured for today's Olympics.

[@ermocrate]

Not even him or, more probably, he is lying.

[@808bAler]

Lawrence Frank said what needed to be said to keep the peace on his team. With such a high level of competition, USAB needs every player to provide peak performance. In my opinion, the only player worthy of injury consideration is KD, who happens to be the all-time leading scorer in US Olympic team history.

[@sharitarits9187]

🎉but he sit there and dont sent home

[@808bAler]

@@sharitarits9187 Kawhi's knees are shot. His Clippers coach is one of the USAB coaches and, if Ty Lue couldn't lobby for his guy, nobody can. In KD's case, he finished the season healthy and playing pretty good basketball. My guess is he's closer to playing at a "world elite" level than Kawhi.

[@sharitarits9187]

@@808bAler but he just always a rider never a carrier

[@RM-xk6iu]

@@sharitarits9187 hmm he pretty much won the last olympics by himself and a couple of Fiba tournaments if i remember correctly

[@blablablaa14]

Wouldn’t it make sense to add a big instead of a guard being you only have 3 guys and two of them are injury prone?

[@tamrattheg]

JB is just as good a defender (even on guards) as D.White, and much more dynamic offensively. Sorry Windy, this CAN'T be the explanation..

[@Hirtelen-pf1dp]

JB aint on White's level defensively. Besides, he a finals MVP, he aint gonna sit back on offense and just help out Lebron and all the other scoring divas on defense. Thats White.

[@TheBeanBandito]

There is absolutely no reason brown shouldn’t be on the team. Nike forsure had their hand in it. Ask for a great wing defender other than Kawhi and your mind instantly goes to Jaylen brown

[@I.am_Groot]

Ooo Nike did it... wait Kawhi a Nike guy? Oof.. got any other theories?

[@ehj1345]

@@I.am_GrootDoes not matter if they’re signed to Nike or not. What matters is Jaylen brown openly criticized Nike for their ethics (and he’s right) along with Kyrie. Thats why both of these guys weren’t on team USA

[@TheBeanBandito]

@@I.am_Groot What would be your reasoning Jaylen didn't get in? The Finals MVP

[@I.am_Groot]

@@TheBeanBandito I have no real interest in it at all. Was happy to see JB get paid and then beast mode himself into history on a title run. Beyond that he don't need my energy on this issue.

[@I.am_Groot]

@@ehj1345 Aww well shucks pardon me for not letting JB tweets dictate my thought process. How dare me 🤣

[@mctaguer]

Even before the decision, REAL analysts were corroborating what Windy says--that a minor weakness of the roster was defensive foot speed on the perimeter. BTW, Derrick White was announced as the potential replacement DURING THE FINALS. I know, I know--there's nothing DRAMATIC or sinister in that. Sooo boring.

[@dailybread2180]

What! Wendy is definitely a company man. In no world is D.White better than Jalen Brown, Brown can defend the 1,2, or 3 at a high level and is an explosive scorer if he has to be. Nobody can make it make sense he's not on this team.

[@L4pa100]

It makes sense because white can play the role of sometimes not even playing! They have enough stars and egos to please.

[@I.am_Groot]

It is not an all-star team and a dozen guys COULD be on Team USA instead of Kawhi but JB told you HE was the only one and you don't think for yourself. Got it

[@kofitoronto9645]

@@L4pa100if that’s the rationale why would they pick kawhi in the first place ? JB is the ideal replacement for Kawhi

[@dailybread2180]

@I.am_Groot J.B. was the Eastern conference MVP, his team then won the title, and he was the MVP. Dude should be on that team. It's the USA team, send the best players, simple as that.

[@kevothegoat9891]

@@I.am_Grootit is a all star team all off season everyone was talking about they the avengers and now we got role players on the team

[@kjjackson3140]

Jalen Brown is objectively a better defender than Derrick White so that rationale is so flawed

[@I.am_Groot]

You only got JB on the brain? Why because he tweeted and you didn't think beyond that?

[@iguesss]

@@I.am_Grootbro when they made they post during the Finals who should replace Kawhi.. Jaylen was the number one name in the comments

[@Sportsguy0258]

I’m sorry but this is bogus. This is a legacy player and he deserved to go out on his shield. The fact the team didn’t speak up for him or his coach. Larry Bird had a bad back and still played. You have young stars who could have carried. They only did it to him because he’s quiet. They would never do this to Lebron KD or Steph. Why Kawhi he’s from that same Elk? Shiesty decision by Team USA

[@themedicalmarvels]

He could’ve went out on his shield when his team needed him during the playoffs.

[@Sportsguy0258]

@@themedicalmarvels are you dense.

[@themedicalmarvels]

@@Sportsguy0258 I don’t float in water

[@Annapurna818]

Come back to Toronto Klaw.

[@stump4522]

​@@themedicalmarvelsLarry Bird barely played in the Dream Team . He only scored 8pts in 18 minutes. Thats easy for an injury prone Kawhi.

[@benjiicurrency2570]

Kawhi is talented but he don’t care so why should we? 🤷‍♂️ Try being available for 70 or @ least 65

[@I.am_Groot]

Facts

[@icgwapo24]

He played 68 this season, but obviously that’s all he could do cuz he was injured for the playoffs

[@I.am_Groot]

@@icgwapo24 Funny how that 65 game threshold pops up suddenly Kawhi should s all good... until he hits that mark

[@Dre_Key]

@@I.am_Groot well lebron and anthony davis was doing the same thing the last 2 seasons but yall only clown davis

[@Dre_Key]

he was but this just xposed the fact that you don't even watch the guy

[@alex4863]

People can relentlessly hammer Kawhi to drop out of the team, yet the same standard can’t be held by critics to KD astonishing.

[@DORAEMON-bw8jk]

LeBron doesn't want Kawhi on his USA Team because he gets hurt too often and can't contribute much. I would prefer Dame Time instead of Derrick White though.

[@Herbalizer28]

Dame is a volume chucker..horrible defender. I think it's great that they brought in White ! He's been one of the main reason for Boston's success..he can fit anywhere, doesn't need the ball and is an elite defender ! Great for White, he deserves it.

[@RM-xk6iu]

Lebron doesnt want Kawhi in the team because he doesnt want to be outshoned by him, sounds more real

[@rongamboa7601]

Klaw is superstar indeed

[@stevecruz779]

Good to see US basketball not running away with this The world will make it Interesting

[@MarkLaw13]

Ty lue is klutch

[@blakemonroe5160]

Windy rocking the Moncler.. talking about some Amazon 😂

[@brightkicks_]

That’s a nautica shirt 💀

[@malikxshabazz443]

Kawhi needs to retire..smh

[@FailedNBAComissioner]

Someone should tell Lawrence Frank clippers GM, that team USA is not a charity team, like his money foolish clippers.

[@Hirtelen-pf1dp]

Interesting. Team USA does start a 40 years old who cant run for more than 2 minutes, and does take an injured 37 years old to the Olympics.

[@Jay12Dizzle]

I don’t think they purposely left jb out. Too many veteran egos that all demand start time that the Olympic team couldn’t say no to

[@RomanBishop2K]

Are we gonna act like just because Boston has players like White and Holiday that Brown isn’t naturally a 2 guard? He plays the 3 for fit… I’m a die hard Celtics fan so no DW hate, but it was obviously supposed to be JB as the replacement.

[@I.am_Groot]

When JB tweeted folks just blindly jumped on the bandwagon... Lots of guys COULD been on that squad

[@RomanBishop2K]

@@I.am_Groot yeah name one better than JB to fill that spot I’ll wait. Who gonna fill the 2 guard that can ball handle, defend, put up buckets?

[@I.am_Groot]

@@RomanBishop2K So only if I answer a question based on your parameters is it valid? How many logical fallacies you trying to invoke in one comment thread. Let me know when team USA easily wins gold and I will give you a shoulder to KRY on lol

[@RomanBishop2K]

@@I.am_Groot aight retard name your Americans better than JB, go. Cause if giving you “parameters” is too much for you goofy, because that’s how they select replacements based on what they need. Then just name whatever player you think should’ve gotten the spot. You do not act like that in person I promise. Soft jaw.

[@leetraviusmckay314]

Tatum adopted Kobe's mindset 🏀

[@footballfan3i2]

Tatum is a nice Kobe on and off the court. Kobe was only nice off

[@frankcb11]

More like Jalen brown this time lol

[@gabb5964]

Rather have the best player available than a complementary piece.

[@smoothradio102]

Kyrie should’ve played for Australia

[@jameswashington1083]

That Jalen Brown excuse makes no sense Windy

[@themedicalmarvels]

That luggage was just a warning. LeAirlines is upset about things you said about his LeSon.

[@ermocrate]

They evaluate to have a back up guard defender… They had KL and JB is a great defender capable also at Guard. No sense explanation.

[@I.am_Groot]

Kawhi should never tried to join team USA dude can't earn his contract with the Clippers and be available when they need him most. So done with this story it ain't about Nike its about putting together a complete team

[@mctaguer]

Right. Does anyone think they didn't talk to Ty Lue, sitting right there?

[@Hirtelen-pf1dp]

Hey my wife used to ask my opinion too. That didnt stop her doing whatever she wanted to do.

[@OvertIntelligence]

This team could of been better assembled. Booker naw give me Butler. Halliburton naw give me Jalen Brown. White naw give me Kyrie.

[@I.am_Groot]

Lol you think Kyrie could find some buckets I mean in the playoffs he could not lol

[@OvertIntelligence]

@@I.am_Groot He averaged 22, 5, and 4 throught the 2024 playoffs. And I’m almost certain White and Jrue won’t be guarding him…

[@I.am_Groot]

@@OvertIntelligence He put in 8 or 9 games where the avg was closer to 12 so spare me and Kyrie ain't got time if he ain't getting a paycheck

[@lizzymayethebordercollie]

They made a mistake and wanted Bronny. The best player to come into the NBA since his dad! 😂

[@jaygolden4811]

Brown what you said doesn’t make sense. Why would you get a guard when you selected a Wing originally so now Team USA switched up the positions why even pick Kawhi if you needed a guard. Just stfu and call it how it is Nike did it.

[@amirmoheet9684]

Never check Windy

[@athleticmind8502]

Windy with the 7XL shirt on 🔥

[@kobeleonard4366]

Kawhi is my favorite star. It’s not on Steve Kerr, Grant hill, or the clippers. It’s on Kawhi if he was ready he would have been a top 3 player in there he wasn’t. His health plays a major role in who he is as a player now. Can’t show up to that team half stepping.

[@DonGivani]

Top 3😂

[@kobeleonard4366]

@@DonGivani healthy Kawhi easily top 3

[@Annapurna818]

Should have stayed in Toronto.

[@Hirtelen-pf1dp]

wdy? KD still on the roster.

[@stump4522]

KD got injure. What you mean boy?

[@marquisdaily7715]

Too many Celtics in this US team. It might cost them dearly during the next season

[@kenny2553]

Should have chosen Austin Reaves!!! 😂

[@XYz-co1ob]

Jalen brown is a better defender than derrick white though

[@L4pa100]

Politics are part of the game get over it! And it’s not about who’s the better player it’s about who is the better fit!

[@dwaynehiler5735]

Woosah my brother, woosah

[@J-Hue]

Team USA has always been about the absolute best NBA players available playing. They figure out where they fit once the team gets together.

[@L4pa100]

@@J-Hue no it hasn’t . You must have just started watching? Do your research look up Isaiah Thomas being left of team USA!

[@L4pa100]

@@dwaynehiler5735 u need help

[@R.Blackstone]

Going the better fit route cost team USA the Olympics in the past.

[@snarkmark2806]

Lawrence Frank exhibits peak Stockholm Syndrome.

[@peacefulwarrior9518]

I don't get the Nike accusations. Why would they care?

[@Greego]

Well, the thought out there is that it is a revenge move from Nike because of a Jaylen Brown quote in the past. He asked when did Nike ever care about ethics. So they say Nike is getting him back now.

[@Gia_P.]

Mister Glass

[@blue_diamond_gem]

He didn’t fit in the LeSystem.

[@afpicks9314]

Brian stop your nonsens about jaylen brown team USA made a mistake. This is politics you should know better

[@tonyjeanclaude9304]

Yup

[@MR-NAE-NAE]

THE PRESIDENT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS

[@reasedogable]

They made the right decision

[@Rashad_McCrorey]

No diddy but windy losing weight and got a good hair cut... his face looks uneven because one side is losing faster than the other 😊

[@diamondhickspharmd2808]

Jaylen can’t defend guards? 🤔

[@JAM915JAM]

They don’t have stores where you’re at so you can buy a suit and tie stop being cheap make enough money

[@Eleven111888]

Multifaceted? Or Multi-political

[@rongiefaustino8867]

Yeah that luggage is gone. RIP

[@robinbreedon]

Bronny is the GOAT.

[@terrencesteele753]

At 2k

[@vic3knight310]

USA Basketball is going to learn after these 2024 Olympics that the politics with Nike must end. they wont be a position to do so with the world catching up

[@I.am_Groot]

Kawhi is not a Nike guy lots of Team USA are not got any other theories?

[@RamboJOE2]

Seemed like kawhi getting invited was out of respect but then they kick him off lmao

[@MsMytube75]

Who is the sharp shooter on USS team

[@sifaplusamical]

curry

[@terrencesteele753]

Uh the best one of all time

[@mctaguer]

Greenie was on vacation, so we were spared his UCONN-could-beat-NBA-teams level of critical thinking. Maybe there IS a God....

[@frankcb11]

It’s not a big deal lol

[@SamBowden]

Yes I believe so? How about doing some actual reporting of facts

[@AnthonyAnalog]

Windhorst is a LeBron jock sniffer.

[@Gman-kx9dr]

I'm more interested in which airline he took than whatever news about Kawhi

[@miguelitoaniceto5882]

They just need to put Kawhi, KD, Lebron, AD, and Ben Simmons together on one team. The street clothes squad. 😂

[@davidpalfrey5786]

Lebron don’t even miss games like that

[@Bastillon]

lmao guard defender... as if JB didn't just lock up Luka in the finals

[@Kstewart14]

Greeny is so corny lmao

[@38mike]

Not sure if this is a hot take, but kawhi has always been boring to watch and very overrated. Just a very blah player overall, never understood the hype.

[@brewer921]

Everything was better with Greeny on vacation.

[@CLIPGANGTV]

This was LeBron being very afraid of the klaw, once again.

[@I.am_Groot]

When Kawhi not 100% and folks got conspiracy theories y'all proving why we need 'coffee is hot' warnings