ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Derrick White is making plans to spend this week at a desert resort, but he had intended to vacation with family in Cabo, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and not in Abu Dhabi, in the Persian Gulf. , to participate in high-level basketball competitions.
But that’s where White is after joining the U. S. team for its first practice on Sunday, arriving at 2:30 a. m. after a long flight from the United States. Team managers had called him four days earlier to inform Kawhi Leonard, who continues to suffer from a knee injury. Training
White knew he was one of the most productive applicants to land a spot on the team, however, he dropped out after Leonard showed up for educational camp and followed practices.
“I realized when everyone noticed when [ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski] tweeted it, and then my agent and I talked about it a little bit over the summer,” White said. “But I assumed Kawhi was going to continue. But when I saw everything that had happened and they called me, I was in a position to go. “
White received the call while in his hometown of Parker, Colorado, outside Denver to lead his annual basketball camp. He had taken time off after helping the Boston Celtics win the NBA title last month and agreeing to a four-year contract extension worth $126 million earlier this month.
But he has enjoyed something like that in the past. In 2019, White called up the senior team for the World Cup in China at the last minute. He had played on the Select team that summer and earned the last spot on the team.
The selection was debatable at the time when White was young and unknown as an actor for the San Antonio Spurs. After being promoted to the top ranks of the backup variety team that year, high-profile guards De’Aaron Fox and Trae Young left the U. S. team. The U. S. Army, with Young citing an eye injury when it became obvious White could fill the spot in front of them.
A member of the All-Defense team and an NBA champion on a nine-figure contract, White’s profile is now much higher. Although there was some controversy again when he was selected by the American team to replace his Celtics teammate, Jaylen Brown, from an injury. among others.
“It was crazy [in 2019] to go from the Select team to the World Cup team and I think now I’ve continued to do that and therefore feel a lot more comfortable,” White said. “I feel [now] like I did back then and I’m excited to be here. “
White’s defensive versatility is considered an advantage for Team USA’s decision-makers. He has been able to serve as a backup to Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday. Olympic teams, in general, are built around star shooting guards or big star men and not as many star players as occasionally happens in the NBA. That’s why Holiday was an important signing for the U. S. team. Be able to use the U. S. , either for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and this year. And why White, who has the ability to stick to point guards or protect bigger side players like Holiday, has been on the team’s short list.
White’s ability to play on the wing as well as protect the shooting guards remains a key detail, as coach Steve Kerr announced Sunday that forward Kevin Durant will miss Monday’s exhibition match against Australia. Durant has yet to have any contact in practice Sunday and has been running. in rehabilitation for his stretched calf and shooting drills. This remains day after day.
As for White, he spent time before with Celtics teammates Holiday and Jayson Tatum, and former team advisor Jeff Van Gundy, a U. S. team assistant Jeff Van Gundy. To catch up.
“I haven’t noticed D-White since the show; I’m so excited to have him here,” Tatum said. “He will bring some of the league’s DNA to this team. “