Hill says Team USA decided on Leonard; White picked over Brown
Grant Hill said Team USA has decided on Kawhi Leonard being sent home even as Derrick White was picked as a replacement.
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HILL SAYS TEAM USA DECIDED ON LEONARD BEING SENT HOME AS WHITE TAPPED AS REPLACEMENT
Furthermore, Hill said Team USA decided on Leonard being sent home, even as White was tapped as a replacement.
Hill, the Team USA executive director, clarified that Team USA made the decision in conversations with Leonard’s NBA team LA Clippers.
“We did, Ultimately, he was sent home, but we were in conversation with the Clippers on that,” Hill said.
“I think we all tried and we gave it a valiant effort, and unfortunately, we have to move forward,” he added.
Leonard’s Team USA stint was in doubt after he was hobbled by knee inflammation.
That forced him to miss the final three games of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks.
WHITE PICKED OVER BROWN AS HILL ADMITS DIFFICULTY IN ‘LEAVING ANYONE OFF’
Moreover, White was picked over his Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown as Leonard’s replacement on Team USA.
Brown tweeted a series of emojis moments after White’s selection was announced then tweeted at Nike, “this what we doing?”
On the other hand, Hill admitted the difficulty of “leaving anyone off” the Team USA roster, without mentioning Brown.
“And so, whatever theories that might be out there they’re just that. But that’s my responsibility,” Hill said.
“And it’s tough. It’s tough to have conversations, tell people that they’re not on the team,” he added.
Brown was named the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals MVP after leading the Celtics to a 4-1 win over the Dallas Mavericks for Boston’s record 18th NBA title.
HILL DEFENDS WHITE SELECTION, ASSURES DURANT STILL WITH TEAM USA
Furthermore, Hill defended Team USA’s selection of White, an NBA All-Defense second team member.
“It’s bittersweet, obviously, but we’re thrilled to add Derrick White,” the Team USA official said.
“I’ve been a big fan of Derrick’s, obviously. He just won a championship,” he added.
Hill described White as a “dynamite defensive player” who can “knock down shots, just impact winning.”
“One of the many thing that I really love about Derrick, and particularly with his team, is I don’t feel like his role changes much with our team from what he does with the Celtics,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hill assured that Kevin Durant is still with Team USA despite the forward suffering a calf strain 10 days before training camp started.
Hill said Durant will join Team USA in flying to Abu Dhabi and should be ready for the Paris Olympics.
“He (Durant) has been working, rehabbing, he looked great. I think we’re just being cautious and conservative,” the Team USA official assured.
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