While it is indisputable that Jayson Tatum , arguably the most dominant modern-day scorer, was the primary consideration from the Boston Celtics to join the star-studded 2024 Team USA roster, a unique development has occurred in the Paris Olympics.
JT's teammate, Derrick White , has been assigned a more defined role than the five-time All-Star. According to Austin Rivers , this change is attributed to a strategic shift in Team USA's coaching philosophy.
Speaking on his podcast, Rivers highlighted how the coaches have understood that to enhance their on-court cohesion, it is more beneficial to allocate more playing time to role players like White, who might come in more handy while playing off the ball than one-on-one scorers like Tatum.
"Derrick White only knows how to play off the ball, Derrick White only knows how to play with limited shots, " Rivers said . "Derrick White is a better spot-up shooter than Jayson Tatum. That's why Derrick White plays."
Rivers on how invaluable White is for 2024 Team USA
As the former L.A. Clipper rightly noted, despite Tatum averaging 6.3 points over the four games for Team USA in the Olympics, White, while averaging merely 4.3 points, has also contributed 1.5 steals per game as well. The latter's noteworthy defensive contribution has encouraged coach Steve Kerr to hand him 17.7 minutes per game, compared to JT, who averaged 14.5.
Furthermore, in the last three games, 'Taco Jay' has shot 38.1% from the field, whereas Derrick, despite only getting opportunities to shoot as a spot-up shooter, has knocked 52.7% of his shots from the field.
Consequently, Rivers claimed that even though White is not a better player than Jaylen Brown, he is seemingly a better 'fit' than the reigning Finals MVP for Kerr's team.
"Is Derrick White better than Jaylen Brown? No, we know this," Austin added. "Is Derrick White going to be a better fit for the USA Team than Jaylen Brown? Absolutely."
Related: Oscar Schmidt shares how beating Team USA after a miraculous 35-point second-half performance was ‘the best part of his life’
How valuable is White for Team USA's success?
The 2024 Team USA roster comprises plenty of ball-dominant players, be it veterans such as Kevin Durant and young talents like Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker, who require possession to make an impact. Conversely, D-White distinguishes himself by creating space for teammates through off-the-ball movements and positioning himself for open perimeter shots.
Despite not receiving due recognition, White's relentless effort and defensive grit are significant factors in Kerr's team securing victories by an average margin of 24.7 points. While stars like Ant-Man and LeBron James attract attention, Derrick's contributions remain substantial.
Related: "Just Celtic hate, good old Celtic hate" - Paul Pierce believes there is a deeper reason for Steve Kerr benching Jayson Tatum
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