Celtics

Derrick White wasn’t anticipating late call-up to Team USA as he joins team in Abu Dhabi

White told reporters that he was set to begin a vacation in Cabo instead of playing with Team USA.

By Conor Roche

July 14, 2024

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When the United States men’s basketball team opened up training camp for the Summer Olympics earlier in July, Derrick White thought the window for him to join the group had passed.

White was reportedly tabbed as the top candidate to replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA in June if the Clippers star’s knee injury failed to properly heal in time. Leonard was with the Team USA when camp opened up though, so White took it as a sign that his services likely wouldn’t be needed.

“I had assumed that Kawhi was going to continue,” White told reporters on Sunday.

Not so fast. Team USA opted to remove Leonard from its roster on Wednesday and named White to the team shortly after.

White wasn’t able to join the team right away though. He had to finish the basketball camp in his native Colorado. By the time he was able to join the team, Team USA had already made its way to Abu Dhabi. So, he didn’t officially join the team until 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and practiced later that morning.

White was anticipating to travel this weekend, but for a much different occasion.

“I’m supposed to be in Cabo right now,” he said. “But it’s better to be here.”

White explained he booked the vacation to Cabo when it looked like Leonard would remain on the roster. But those plans went out that window earlier this week, saying he found out he made the team around the time it was posted on social media.

“When I seen all that happened [with Leonard] and I got the call, I was ready to go,” White said. ” … I just had to talk to the family and try to figure out how we can make it work and as quickly as possible. I’m super thankful and grateful and excited to be here.”

Even though it was already reported that White was the top candidate to replace Leonard weeks ago, many were surprised that he was the third Celtics player named to Team USA over Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. Brown seemed to express some confusion over the matter as well in social media posts before saying he’ll “share my story” someday when he spoke to Cam Newton at the ESPYs.

Regardless, White is with Team USA now after having a career year. He scored 15.2 points per game in 2023-24, posing career highs in 3-point shooting percentage (39.6) and assists (5.2 per game).

But White’s defensive contributions seemingly put his candidacy to join the star-studded roster over the top. He averaged a steal and 1.2 blocks per game this past season, making second-team All-Defense again.

As White has been a bit of a Swiss Army Knife for the Celtics since he joined the team in February 2022, his focus is on doing the same thing for Team USA in the Olympics.

“I just want to go out there and do what I do, try to fill any holes we might have,” White said.

White filling in whatever holes Team USA might have might be made easier by the fact that Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday are already on the team. He’s happy to see a pair of familiar faces.

“I’m obviously playing with Jrue and JT again,” White said. “It will be a lot of fun. Just looking forward to getting out there.”

Tatum also said he’s “excited” to see White join Team USA, saying he actually hasn’t seen him since the Celtics’ parade in late June. He said White will add “championship DNA” as he recalled the journey his teammate’s been on.

“I dunno if anybody saw that he would get to where he is now, but he deserves all the credit,” Tatum told reporters. He’s a hell of a guy, hell of a teammate.

“He never thought he’d be joining us,” Tatum added. “He’s come a long way, he’s an NBA champion and now an Olympian. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

White’s first practice with Team USA is in the books and his first game will follow shortly after. It takes on Australia in its second exhibition game ahead of the Olympics. Team USA’s Olympic slate begins on July 28 against Serbia.