CONFIRMED: Derrick White will be replacing Kawhi Leonard with USA Basketball.
Scroll back up to restore default view.
Derrick White joins Team USA as Kawhi’s replacement for 2024 Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics duo on the USA Basketball squad competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics will become a trio.
Celtics guard Derrick White has replaced Kawhi Leonard on Team USA’s Olympic roster after Leonard withdrew from the team, USA Basketball confirmed Wednesday. Andscape’s Marc J. Spears was the first to report that White would be Leonard’s replacement.
Leonard’s withdrawal appears to be injury-related, as USA Basketball announced in a statement that the Los Angeles Clippers determined it was in Leonard’s best interest not to compete in the Olympics.
White’s addition to Team USA means he’ll join Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday on the 12-man squad headed to Paris later this month. It also means a reunion of the “Stock Exchange” on Team USA: Holiday and White were ferocious defenders for Boston during its 2024 championship run and both were named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.
White replacing Leonard may surprise some considering he wasn’t an All-Star this season and averaged *only* 15.2 points per game. But those who watched the 30-year-old play know that White is one of the NBA’s most well-rounded guards who became the only player in Celtics history outside Larry Bird to average at least 15 points, five assists, one block and one steal per game in 2023-24.
White also is an exceptional teammate whose ego-free playing style is a great fit on the star-laden USA squad. He has experience playing at the international level, as well; the Colorado native played for Team USA at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and was a finalist to make the 2020 Olympic roster.
Team USA kicks off its exhibition schedule Wednesday night in Las Vegas with a game against Canada that tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET.
News
‘He’s an angry boy’: As Prince Harry’s faux-royal tour ends, why despite his jollity and cheeky dancing, one pal claims the Duke’s American dream ‘hasn’t turned out the way he wanted’… and shouldn’t expect an invitation when Wills takes the throne
‘He’s an angry boy’: As Prince Harry’s faux-royal tour ends, why despite his jollity and cheeky dancing, one pal claims the Duke’s American dream ‘hasn’t turned out the way he wanted’… and shouldn’t expect an invitation when Wills takes the…
“Meghan Markle Stuns in Colombia: Princess of Sussex Wows Crowd with Fluent Spanish While Prince Harry Struggles with Earpiece”
“Meghan Markle Stuns in Colombia: Princess of Sussex Wows Crowd with Fluent Spanish While Prince Harry Struggles with Earpiece” Meghan Markle showed off her ability to speak Spanish as she addressed the audience during her ‘Afro women and power’ talk in…
“It’s what I went through…”: Rob Lowe praised Taylor Swift’s fame, saying it is far more intense than what he experienced during his ’80s heyday
“It’s what I went through…”: Rob Lowe praised Taylor Swift’s fame, saying it is far more intense than what he experienced during his ’80s heyday Rob Lowe has some perspective on what Taylor Swift is going through right now. In the 1980s he…
How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their long-distance relationship work – as NFL star’s secret to dating success is revealed
How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their long-distance relationship work – as NFL star’s secret to dating success is revealed As Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift enter year No 2 of their relationship, finding consistent ways to make their long-distance romance survive is…
Taylor Swift shows her love for Travis Kelce at London Eras show
Taylor Swift shows her love for Travis Kelce at London Eras show Taylor Swift subtly showed her love for boyfriend, Travis Kelce, while taking the stage for her first of five performances in London at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. As she returned to…
EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Swift tearfully reveals her parents are in attendance for her second Wembley show as she performs London Boy for the FIRST TIME on her Eras Tour after a three-minute standing ovation from fans..
EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Swift tearfully reveals her parents are in attendance for her second Wembley show as she performs London Boy for the FIRST TIME on her Eras Tour after a three-minute standing ovation from fans.. Taylor Swift tearfully revealed her parents…
End of content
No more pages to load