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Boston Celtics guard Derrick White was called upon to replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA’s stacked Olympic roster, which generated support beyond the coaching staff.
Future Hall of Famer LeBron James, who already has two Olympic gold medals and attracted some of the NBA’s brightest stars to join him this summer in representing USA Basketball, was asked about the switch from Leonard to White — a move which the 39-year-old deemed “great” for Team USA.
“What can Derrick White add? His poise, his ability to guard, his ability to shoot the ball,” James told reporters Thursday, per NBC Sports Boston. “Bringing another championship DNA guy, it’s great.”
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White is fresh off the single-best season of his career. He debuted as a starter on a star-studded Celtics roster, averaged a career-high 15.2 points on 46.1% shooting, and topped it all off with an NBA Finals victory which the 30-year-old contributed to heavily. White validated himself as one of the most efficient and game-changing two-way guards in the league, capable of defending players of nearly all positions at a high level.
When Team USA squared off against Canada in Wednesday night’s exhibition matchup, Steve Kerr and the rest of USA’s coaching staff saw first-hand how much of a difference an elite two-way guard can be.
Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday was inserted into the starting lineup, playing alongside James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid and Devin Booker. Holiday scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out four assists and totaled two blocks in the 86-72 USA win.
“Jrue was great,” Kerr said postgame, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “He’s one of the best defenders in the league. Not just on ball, but off ball. His help, his anticipation. But I thought that was one of the keys to the game, just the collective ball pressure that our guys had out there, and Jrue obviously leads the way in that regard.”
White will likely be utilized in a similar role once settled in with the rest of Team USA’s locker room, on the hunt for his first career Olympic gold medal.