Brian Babineau. Getty Images.Well that's a shame! To be honest, I didn't know Kawhi was actually healthy enough to play, so I wasn't all that surprised. It feels like it's been a long time since I've seen him on a basketball court, and it might have been more shocking if he had actually played in the Olympics. Kawhi's two-way dominance when healthy is undeniable, but if he's not 1000% healthy at this stage of his career (assuming this is 1000%), there's no reason to take the risk. If I were the Clippers, absolutely Considering how important he is to the team, I don't want him to play if he's not feeling well.
The good news is, that's why Team USA is forming its own Avengers. Wouldn't it be nice to have Kawhi on board? Sure. He's great. But in this lineup, he's just a bonus. Even without Kawhi, he's just a bonus to a basketball Sunday that's been going around the world. It's a deep talent pool.
As for alternative options, I think Derrick White is a great option, not only does he have experience with the US National Team, but he is also one of the best two-way players in the entire NBA (fact, not opinion).
It's great to see Stock Exchange and Jrue/Derrick back on Team USA given their dominance as a championship backcourt this season, and it's pretty crazy that 25% of Team USA is made up of the NBA champion Boston Celtics. It's like 2019 all over again, but much better. I'm a little surprised Grant Hill didn't pick another champion, but they'll lose a big, two-way wing.
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Given the rest of Team USA's composition, I think either player would be fine. You could make the argument that either one should have been chosen over Kawhi, but that's a story for another day. Now that we know it's Derrick, there's no question he'll fit in well on the team. Not only is he the best glue, he's also a really good player. Do you need a player who can play a role and thrive? That's Hagederrick. Do you need a player who can protect the rim at the highest level in the NBA while cutting off the water on the perimeter, stretch the floor and shoot 40% from 3-point range? That's Derrick.
With KD out with a calf injury and Kawhi out, we are truly beginning to see a new era of NBA stardom, which is great too. This is a chance for players like Tatum, Ant, Booker, and others to take the reins from the older generation and establish themselves as the next generation of talent for the U.S. Olympic team. It was going to happen someday, and it looks like that moment has finally come.
