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Kawhi Leonard won't be going to the Olympics

Team USA just lost a big time element of their defensive and offensive attack.

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Per a Spurs press release:

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard today announced that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2016 USA Basketball Men's National Team.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.

I'm surprised Leonard decided not to go to Rio, but can you really blame him? Some of the league's biggest players, including Stephen Curry, have already dropped out, citing various reasons. What with a financial collapse in progress, worsening Zika reports, and sewage water in the outdoor swimming facilities, this year's Olympics are gearing up to be very strange indeed. Who will be next to remove their name from consideration?