Sunday, June 16, 2024

Report: Derrick White a 'real potential candidate' to join Team USA if Kawhi Leonard can't play


Derrick White could reportedly join teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday this summer at the Paris Olympics on Team USA if one current member can't play.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics guard is a "real candidate" to replace All-NBA wing Kawhi Leonard if he can't go due to recovering from an injury.
"I'm told that Derrick White looms as a real potential candidate for Team USA in the Summer Olympics if Kawhi Leonard is unable to successfully rehab back from that knee inflammation that kept him out of the back-end of the playoffs," Wojnarowski said prior to Game 4 Friday.
The Celtics, who are one win away from an NBA championship, were beaten 122-84 by the Dallas Mavericks in the franchise's worst finals loss to date and third worst in league history less than 48 hours ago.

While it's unclear how long Leonard will be sidelined with right knee inflammation, which is what kept him out for most of the playoffs, the 2024 Olympics are set to begin on July 26.

Other than Tatum and Holiday, Team USA's current roster includes LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Bam Adebayo, Tyrese Haliburton, and Leonard.

White was among those named during Team USA's initial pool of 41 players back in January along with another C's teammate Jaylen Brown, before a final roster was selected and announced in April.

Wojnarowski also reported on the Celtics making it a huge priority to sign White to a possible extension this summer as well.

Boston will look to wrap up the finals in Game 5 Monday night at TD Garden, as ABC has the tip-off at 8:30 pm ET. 


Joel Pavón




Photo used courtesy of Getty Images

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