Another dimension to Jalen Brunson’s Olympic snub was added on Wednesday.
The New York Knicks’ superstar guard was passed over by Team USA in favor of Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, who will replace the injured Kawhi Leonard for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris beginning later this month.
Leonard suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. While he was in attendance at Team USA’s camp and recently brushed off injury concerns, the Clippers deemed that “it’s in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris.”
When it comes to offensive production, Brunson holds the clear edge over White. Boston’s guard averaged 15.2 points with 4.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game during the Celtics’ championship-winning campaign. Brunson catapulted to superstar status, though, posting a career-high 28.7 points per game to go with 6.7 assists.
Team USA, obviously, is not short on offensive firepower. This is a roster that already boasts Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum. It is White’s defensive acumen that likely got him the nod for the Olympics.
The 30-year-old has garnered second-team All-NBA-Defensive team honors for two straight seasons. His defensive rating of 109.9 ranked 13th among players who averaged more than 30 minutes per game this season. At 112.6, Brunson ranked 40th.
