Derrick White’s On-Brand Performance Helps Bail Out Team USA Vs. South Sudan

Derrick White didn’t step foot on the floor until the second half of Team USA’s nail-biting exhibition against South Sudan on Saturday.

It took a 16-point come-from-behind performance for Team USA, running with a Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James and Anthony Davis starting lineup, for the American men’s Olympic team to escape with a 101-100 win — and remain undefeated through its exhibition play, thus far.

White, a late addition to the star-studded Olympic roster who joined in place of Kawhi Leonard, unleashed the version of himself that’s made the 30-year-old a household name with the Boston Celtics. White played selfless, team-first, on-brand basketball when Team USA head coach Steve Kerr inserted the efficient two-way guard into the contest — a move that paid dividends throughout the second half, including the game-deciding possession.

South Sudan, trailing Team USA by one point and with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, missed the potential game-winning layup. White, who stood beneath the basket, contested a putback attempt to secure the diciest Team USA victory. Per usual, the gritty Celtics guard was at the right place, at the right time, giving USA Basketball precisely what it envisioned when welcoming White aboard.

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For the first two quarters of play, in which White patiently awaited an opportunity to contribute, South Sudan was significantly out-performing Team USA. White’s appearance, however, played critical in swinging the pendulum in favor of Team USA as the seven-year veteran finished with a second-half-leading five assists and three rebounds in 11 minutes.

Although the late-game dramatics weren’t expected, especially for a roster consisting of seven NBA Finals champions, White’s delivery spoke volumes. Similar to Holiday’s recruitment, White wasn’t welcomed to amplify Team USA’s star power but to stabilize the roster’s depth with the intangibles needed to win. White proved himself as a much-needed puzzle piece throughout Boston’s run to Banner 18, and this summer, White has the chance to supply that same impact on the Olympic stage in Paris.

Team USA has one more exhibition matchup, scheduled for Monday against Germany, before opening up the group-stage contests on July 28 with Serbia.