Grant Hill Explains Why Team USA Ranked Derrick White Over Jaylen originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
LAS VEGAS – After Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown seemed to express some frustration upon being passed over for an open roster spot on Team USA, managing director Grant Hill did his best to explain on Wednesday why Brown’s teammate Derrick White was the ideal choice to replace the ailing Kawhi Leonard.
Hill also rejected any suggestion that Team USA sponsor Nike, which Brown previously criticizedplayed any role in the decision.
“Well, for most of my career I used FILA – that was supposed to be a joke,” Hill joked. He later added: “Whatever theories there may be, they are just that.”
In the meantime, he detailed the process of selecting a replacement just days before Team USA heads overseas for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“You have to build a team,” Hill said. “And one of the hardest things is leaving out the squad that I’m a fan of, that I hope to watch throughout the season, throughout the playoffs. Guys who were Finals MVP, guys who were part of the program, guys who won gold medals. Guys I respect, admire and enjoy watching.
“But the responsibility I have is to put together a team and a team that complements each other.”
“I’m trying to put the right pieces together that fit together and give us a chance to win.”
USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill addresses the decision to add Derrick White to the team’s roster following Kawhi Leonard’s departure pic.twitter.com/mWUCrSB5Tv
– Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) July 11, 2024
Hill praised White’s offense.
“One of the many things I really love about Derrick, and particularly this team, is that I don’t feel like his role changes much on our team from what he does on the Celtics,” Hill said. “He plays alongside two incredibly great young players, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
“This setup is difficult when you come in and you have to do this – you are the center of your universe and now you have to establish a role and it may be different to what you have to do with your team. And then having someone who can come in and play against guys, be complementary to some others, but also stand out and be a dynamite defensive player and knock down shots – it just impacts winning.
Hill said he reached out to White on Tuesday night, and after White consulted with his family, he committed to making the Olympic team.
White spent Wednesday at his youth basketball camps in Colorado. He hopes to meet with the team before heads to Abu Dhabi for two exhibitions on July 15 and 17 against Serbia and South Sudan, respectively.
