Team USA could soon have three members of the Boston Celtics.
Kawhi Leonard is withdrawing from Team USA for the Paris Olympics, according to Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Celtics guard Derrick White reportedly is a “strong candidate” to replace Leonard, which would allow him to join Boston teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday.
Team USA hasn’t featured three NBA players from the same team since 2016 (Golden State).
White was an early candidate to replace Leonard prior to the team breaking for training camp in Las Vegas, but he didn’t get the opportunity since the 33-year-old appeared to be healthy and ready for Paris.
Leonard clearly was not.
White, a member of the 2019 FIBA World Cup team, spoke about the opportunity to play for Team USA following the Celtics’ title win in June.
“Any chance you can play for your country and just try to win a gold medal, I think that would definitely be something that, if Kawhi or whatever goes on and they ask me, I’ll definitely be looking forward to,” White said, per Zack Cox of the Boston Herald.
Leonard’s decision to withdraw from the team could open a starting spot, with Tatum and Kevin Durant looking like the most likely options to replace him.
UPDATE (11:16 a.m. ET): White was officially added to Team USA’s roster, per Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
