Would you ditch your family holiday to play for your country? Such opportunities seldom come for most people. However, when they do, no commitments are great enough to not be sidelined, are they? Just ask Derrick White. After a championship summer, the C’s All-Defensive guard was relishing his off days. His birthday was around the corner when the phone rang.

A “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” awaited him. Obviously. He took it.

On 10th July, White received information from his agent about Kawhi Leonard pulling out from the Paris Olympics to manage his health. In the leading weeks, his name had been put out as the possible replacement. While it managed to create a swirling controversy with Jaylen Brown, his teammate being overlooked, there was a slight chance the Celtics sharpshooter could have declined the invite.

“My wife and my best friend’s wife, we both turned 30 and so they planned our 30th birthday party in Cabo… So I was preparing to go to that, packing for that,” White revealed. That’s when the phone rang and his agent broke the news. Derrick had the chance to play with some of the most decorated superstars in the history of modern-day basketball and battle together for a Gold medal.

At first, the weight of the opportunity hit Derrick White. “I was like this is crazy!” he exclaimed while making a ‘wow’ reaction.

However, the hoopster couldn’t signal his participation without having a conversation with his wife, Hannah Schneider. Despite the birthday surprise, the mother of two had planned for him, she understood just how pivotal a career moment this would be.

“We talked about it and she said I could go and so. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I mean, anytime you play in the Olympics, it’s once in a lifetime, but like the team that was going to be there just trying to embrace this moment, I was pretty excited,” Derrick White concluded on The Young Man and The Three. The complete turnaround wasn’t on the cards for White when the summer began.

However, as it spontaneously came his way, the 30-year-old made sure he didn’t waste the chance he had.

Derrick White made his Olympics shot worth it

White previously played international basketball at the age of 24 during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. Back then, he impressed Jeff Van Gundy. It was no different than when Steve Kerr got the chance to witness his preparation. Grounded as he is, the Celt’s selfless instincts played in perfectly for the ‘Avengers’ with a myriad of talent at his disposal.

Combined with Jrue Holiday, his Boston teammate, Derrick White let his shot-blocking prowess be the impact-making trait. Averaging 1.4 steals and a block through the Olympics, in Kerr’s eyes, the 2024 champion was essential for the international format.

“Derrick White is a phenomenal basketball player. He’s a winner, he’s a FIBA player. FIBA’s different. For every single guy, there’s some different rules, different flow. Derrick is a champion, he’s a phenomenal basketball player and he’ll continue to make a huge impact for us,” the nine-time champion stated about the Celtics star guard.

Likewise, he did miss what would have surely been a wonderful vacation in Cabo to celebrate his birthday.

Instead, Derrick White became a regular defensive disrupter for Steve Kerr, helping Team USA bag another Gold medal at the Paris Olympics through efficient shooting and high defensive activity, while etching his name in the history books.

That’s one summer to remember.