Team USA is here and features not one, not two but three NBA champions. Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday were a part of the team to begin with but the departure of Kawhi Leonard left director Grant Hill to choose their teammate Derrick White for replacement.
There has been a ton of controversy but Hill's reasoning for his decision makes a whole lot of sense. It's never always going to be about star power — there are other components, too.
“You have to build a team,” said Hill (h/t NBC Sports Boston). “And one of the hardest things is leaving people off the roster that I'm a fan of, that I look forward to watching throughout the season, throughout the playoffs. Guys who've been Finals MVP, guys who have been a part of the program, guys who've won gold medals. Guys who I respect, admire and enjoy watching."
He follows this up by saying, "But the responsibility that I have is to put together a team and a team that complements each other.”
That's true, fit is so crucial. A head coach can have the top players but that does not automatically qualify for domination, fluidity and chemistry.
Grant Hill's vision is similar to Joe Mazzulla's
Just like Joe Mazzulla, he places White alongside two All-Stars in Tatum and Brown but continues to excel so well. Hill believes that his role will not be much different from that and it's so true.
“One of the many things that I really love about Derrick, and particularly with this team, is I don't feel like his role changes much with our team, from what he does with the Celtics,” said Hill. “He plays alongside two incredibly great young players in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum."
White is capable to make an impact on this Team USA squad filled with guys like LeBron James, Steph Curry and more.
That championship DNA will do him justice.