Thetechpeople.net USA Basketball announced today that Derrick White (Boston Celtics) has been named to the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, which will compete in the Paris Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11, 2024. White was selected by the team’s managing director, Grant Hill.
Kawhi Leonard’s absence was announced.
USA Basketball previously confirmed that Kawhi Leonard, who was named to the 2024 men’s national team in April, will not participate in the Olympic Games. USA Basketball and the Los Angeles Clippers decided it was in Leonard’s best interest to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.
Grant Hill’s Statement
Grant Hill stated, “I am happy to announce that Derrick will compete in his first Olympic Games following a championship season in Boston. We look forward to him joining the team in the coming days as we continue preparations for Paris. I also want to thank Kawhi for his commitment to the men’s national team. He earned the opportunity to represent the United States, but it was important for him to focus on his NBA season preparations.”
2024 Men’s National Team Members
In addition to White, the 2024 men’s national team includes 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).
Derrick White’s Record
Derrick White, a seven-year NBA veteran, joins the men’s national team after helping lead the Celtics to their record 18th NBA Championship in June. In the 2023–24 season, 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.
Kawhi Leonard’s History with USA Basketball
Kawhi Leonard has been part of the USA Basketball family since 2012, participating in the USA Select Teams in 2012 and 2014, and playing for USA White in the 2015 USA Basketball Showcase.
Achievements of the Men’s National Team
The 2024 men’s senior national team boasts 11 combined Olympic appearances and owns 10 Olympic gold medals, as well as three FIBA World Cup titles. In total, the U.S. will take 11 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs, and seven NBA champions to Paris.
Coaching Staff for the National Team
The 2024 USA men’s national team will be led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers), and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat). Last summer, the quartet coached the 2023 USA men’s national team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila.
Olympic Games Schedule
The Olympic Games are set to take place from July 26 to August 11. The U.S. men will open group play in Lille, France, against Serbia on July 28. They will then face South Sudan on July 31 and Puerto Rico on August 3.
USA Basketball Showcase
The USA Basketball Showcase, an exhibition series to help prepare the 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 at 10:30 p.m. ET live on FS1.
