Derrick White was with his family in Denver when he got the call to play for Team USA in the Paris Olympics.
Change of Plans
He had planned a vacation in Cabo, Mexico, but instead, he flew to Abu Dhabi to join the team. Four days earlier, he learned Kawhi Leonard needed replacing due to his knee injury.
Unexpected Call-Up
Derrick knew he might be picked but wasn’t sure until Kawhi’s status changed. He said, “I kind of figured it out when everybody else figured out when [ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski] tweeted it.”
Derrick White has joined the #USABMNT in Abu Dhabi!
— NBA (@NBA)
Career Highlights and New Teammates
White is coming off one of his best NBA seasons, averaging 15.2 points and helping the Celtics win a championship. Now he’s joining teammates Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum in Abu Dhabi.
We think Derrick will do great!
Tatum said, “I haven’t seen D-White since the parade; so excited to have him here.”
Kawhi Leonard’s Exit
Grant Hill explained that sending Kawhi home was tough but necessary for both Team USA and the Clippers’ next season. Despite showing promise during training, Kawhi wasn’t fully recovered from his injury.
Hill said they had to pivot for everyone’s best interest: “We tried… unfortunately, we have to move forward.” He added that wanting to play despite not being physically ready is something many athletes understand well.
