Steve Kerr has big words for Derrick White amid Team USA lineup decisions

Team USA recruited Jrue Holiday at the beginning of the NBA regular season, and Jayson Tatum joined the squad to chase his second gold medal. Yet now that they are both in Paris, a third Boston Celtics star is shining the brightest: Derrick White.

Derrick White, Boston Celtics, Team USA, Steve Kerr

Through Team USA’s first two showings at the Olympics, White has been incredible. He’s not putting up mind-melting stats, but his impact on both ends has been undeniable. White has been a perfect offensive connector, a Tasmanian devil on defense, and a knock-down three-point shooter.

Team USA coach Steve Kerr shows love to Celtics star Derrick White

Head coach Steve Kerr has had to make some very difficult lineup decisions thus far, including benching Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Haliburton for full games. But White hasn’t been benched yet, and Kerr clearly values the Celtics guard very highly.

“Derrick’s a champion,” Kerr said via Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “He’s a phenomenal basketball player, and he’ll continue to make a huge impact for us.”

White helped the Celtics win Banner 18 this summer and was rewarded with a massive contract extension. He inked the dotted line with Boston on a four-year, $125.9 deal.

Ever since his time in high school, White has been battling the odds. As a zero-star recruit, he attended University of Colorado Colorado Springs for three years before transferring to the University of Coloardo. Now, after a brief All-Star campaign, he’s an NBA Champion and helping Team USA fight for a gold medal.

And with Kerr’s praises comes the likelihood that White could be utilized in most Team USA lineups—and he should be.

Guys like LeBron James and Kevin Durant will obviously lead the charge, but the squad needs elite role players around those types of players. White played a role-player role on the Celtics, and it led to a title. He should certainly be able to do the same this summer.

Both he and Holiday make sense with virtually every lineup Team USA can throw onto the court, so it makes sense that they see minutes in every game (barring a significant change in Kerr’s strategy).

White has been perfect for Team USA, and Kerr seems to see that.

Related Posts

Warriors Acquire Trail Blazers Wing And Big Man In Proposed Trade Scenario

The Golden State Warriors can take a major step towards contending if they make this high-risk deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Golden State Warriors have…

Lakers Land Stephen Curry In This ‘Impossible’ Blockbuster Mock Deal

A last-ditch trade effort to get Stephen Curry and LeBron James to team up and play together on the Lakers for the 2024-25 season. The Los Angeles…

Kevin Durant References LeBron James’ Miami Heat Speech With His Olympic Gold Medals

Kevin Durant referenced LeBron James’ iconic ‘not one, not two…’ speech during his Miami Heat press conference when showing off his Olympic gold medal. Kevin Durant had a…

Bam Adebayo calls Kevin Durant the ‘greatest Olympian’ of all time

The dust is settling from Team USA’s incredible run to winning a gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo is reflecting…

Blake Griffin takes awesome role in Payton Pritchard’s wedding

Blake Griffin recently officiated his former Boston Celtics teammate’s wedding. Jaylen Brown uploaded a video of Griffin officiating the wedding next to Payton Pritchard. Despite only spending one year with the Celtics, it’s…

Draymond Green, Ayesha Curry involved in intense confrontation with Paris Police after Olympics

Ayesha Curry, the wife of Warriors and USA basketball star Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green were involved in a confrontation with Paris police on Saturday after Team USA’s gold medal…