Former Heisman winner praises Derrick White on Team USA

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Former Heisman winner praises Derrick White as Team USA member

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated Jul 10, 2024 4:44 PM ET

Sports fans who keep up with social media chatter know that Robert Griffin III remains very vocal despite not being an active player himself since 2020.

Griffin has a lot to say regardless of the sport, and this trend continued on Wednesday when the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback commented on breaking news that Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White would be a late addition to the Team USA roster heading to the Paris Olympics.

"Gives the team a gritty, aggressive, defensive-minded guard who can space the floor with 3-point shooting on offense and do the dirty work on defense," RGIII said in a post to the X platform, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.

White will be replacing Kawhi Leonard in Paris, USA Basketball announced in a statement on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Clippers star has been at training camp with the team but continues to battle lingering knee inflammation.

Derrick White makes all the sense in the world to replace Kawhi Leonard on Team USA for the Olympics. Gives the team a gritty, aggressive defensive minded guard who can space the floor with 3 point shooting on offense and do the dirty work on defense. Still wanted Kyrie though.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 10, 2024

Griffin may not be the foremost authority on professional basketball, and plenty of fans have taken to social media to air their grievances about White being selected.

However, Celtics writer Noa Dalzell echoes the sentiment that White is a well-rounded player who can fill different roles.

"D-White is one of the top utility guys in the world," Dalzell writes. "You don't want a team of stars who all need the ball in their hands."

I feel like the people who are complaining about Derrick White being a potential replacement on Team USA are kind of forgetting how team basketball works.

D-White is one of the top utility guys in the world. You don't want a team of stars who all need the ball in their hands.
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) July 10, 2024

Elite role players who embrace that role are hard to come by and are exactly what this star-studded team needs. Derrick White is also somebody that doesn't have to play a minute and won't take any issue.
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) July 10, 2024

White, who just turned 30, is coming off of a championship run with the Celtics. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 blocks over 35.6 minutes played during the 2024 NBA playoffs.

He is expected to join Team USA this weekend in Abu Dhabi, per ABC News, for the first of two international exhibition games leading up to the Paris Olympics later this month.

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