Derrick White Says Team USA Role Is to 'Try to Fill Any Holes That We Might Have'

After replacing Kawhi Leonard on the Team USA roster for the Paris Olympics, Derrick White is not putting pressure on himself to have a major role.

"Just go out there and just do what I do, just try to fill any holes that we might have and just compete at a high level," White said of his plans for contributions to Team USA, per The Athletic's Joe Vardon.

White played a key role in helping the Boston Celtics win their 18th NBA championship this season. He earned a second-team All-Defensive selection and averaged 16.7 points during the postseason. The Celtics rewarded him with a four-year, $126 million contract extension earlier this month.

The 30-year-old arrived in Abu Dhabi to join Team USA. He said he canceled a planned vacation to Cabo San Lucas so he could have the chance to play in the Olympics.

"I had assumed that Kawhi was going to continue," said White, who was in his hometown of Parker, Colorado, hosting a youth basketball camp when the call came. "I got the call and I was ready to go. … I just had to talk to the family and try to figure out how we can make it work and as quickly as possible. I'm super thankful and grateful and excited to be here."

White was a somewhat surprising selection to replace Leonard, as his teammate Jaylen Brown was expected to be an option after his impressive showing in the postseason, including winning NBA Finals MVP. However, White is a better fit on a Team USA roster filled with stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

"It was crazy [in 2019] going from the Select Team to the World Cup team and I just think now I've just continued to get better and better and so feel much more comfortable," White said. "I feel [now] like I did back then and I'm just excited to be here."

White will be playing alongside his Celtic teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday as Team USA goes for its fifth straight gold medal.

"I haven't seen D-White since the parade; so excited to have him here," Tatum said. "He'll bring some championship DNA to this team."