Derrick White is USA Basketball's first choice to fill in for Kawhi Leonard in case the LA Clippers forward is unable to play in the Olympic Games.
Derrick White could use his strong season to find a spot in Team USA’s roster for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Derrick White
| Team: |
Boston Celtics |
| Position: | PG |
| Age: | 29 |
| Height: | 196 cm |
| Weight: | 91 kg |
| Birth place: | United States of America |
“I’m told that Derrick White will be a prominent replacement candidate for USA Basketball’s summer Olympic roster if the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard is not able to fully rehab back that knee injury that ended his playoff season prematurely,” Adrian Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown on Friday. “That’s certainly something USA Basketball is monitoring.”
White started 73 games in the regular season for the Boston Celtics and all 18 playoff games thus far, making his second-straight All-Defensive Team. In the regular season, White averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1 steal and 1.2 blocks a game on 40% shooting from deep.
Κawhi Leonard, 32, missed the last eight games of the season and then four more in the playoffs with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. The six-time All-Star averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this season. Leonard has never played for Team USA, but practiced with the squad ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.
