KAWHI LEONARD STATEMENT REGARDING 2016 USA BASKETBALL MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

SAN ANTONIO (June 23, 2016) – San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard today announced that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team. "This was a very difficult decision. It's an honor to have been considered for the team and I hope that in the future I will have the chance to represent my country by playing for USA Basketball." Leonard, the 2015 and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, was a 2016 All-NBA First Team selection. In his first All-Star season, the fifth-year forward averaged a career-high 21.2 points to go along with 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.78 steals in 33.1 minutes while shooting .506 (551-1,090) from the floor, a personal-best .443 (129-291) from beyond the arc and .874 (292-334) from the free throw line.