White previously played for Team USA on the 2019 FIBA World Cup team.
. It didn't take much time for reports to emerge regarding who would replace the former Defensive Player of the Year.that Boston Celtics star role player Derrick White would be tabbed to replace Leonard on Team USA. White had a career year for the reigning champs, averaging 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.
White's familiarity with Steve Kerr's Olympic scheme and his teammates were likely the driving factors in the decision. He played on the 2019 FIBA World Cup team, when Kerr was an assistant, and of course just finished a title run with Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday. Now the trio will go for gold together.
White's skillset and defending will be paramount to Team USA's gold medal quest this year. He's outstanding locking down opposing guards and plays bigger than his size in the paint. Offensively White is a good passer and connector who is perfectly content to get zero shots up if it means his team wins.
It's tougher than ever for Team USA to dominate on the world stage. White is now part of the journey to try and earn the country's fifth straight first place Olympic finish.Liam McKeone is a senior writer for the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in the industry as a content creator since 2017, and prior to joining SI in 2024, McKeone worked for NBC Sports Boston and The Big Lead.
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