Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has been named to the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team,, USA Basketball announced on Wednesday.
White will replace Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, who was a member of the USA Basketball family since 2012 and was a member of two USA Select Teams in 2012 and 2014, and played for USA White in the 2015 USA Basketball Showcase.
USA Basketball and the L.A. Clippers determined it’s in Leonard’s best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming NBA season, according to a press release.
White was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill.
“I am happy to announce that Derrick will compete at his first Olympic Games on the heels of a championship season in Boston,” Hill said. “We look forward to him joining the team in the coming days as we continue preparations for Paris.
A seven-year NBA veteran, White, joins the USA Men’s National Team after helping lead the Celtics to a record 18th NBA Championship in June. In 2023-24, the 30-year-old guard averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the second consecutive season.
In addition to White, the 2024 USA Men’s National Team features Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
Team USA is led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), who is assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (LA Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat).
The USA Basketball Showcase, an exhibition series to help prepare USA men’s and women’s national teams for international competition, will begin today, July 10, when the United States hosts Canada at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 2024 Olympic Games are set for July 26-Aug. 11. The U.S. men open group play in Lille, France, against Serbia on July 28. They will then face South Sudan on July 31 and Puerto Rico on Aug. 3.
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