The 2024 Olympics are over. Three Boston Celtics, including Derrick White, were on the squad and won gold medals in Paris. But the version of White basketball fans got to watch in the Olympics is only a small piece of the guy Bostonians get to watch on a nightly basis.
White earned an All-Star push this past season. His impact on the court was reflected in his incredible defensive play and knock-down three-point shooting. And while both of those things are crucial to his effectiveness, simply stating them as attributes of his game is underselling what he brings to the table.
Jayson Tatum leads the way on the offensive end for Boston, but White is right there next to him. His skills as an offensive connector have elevated him from a top-notch role player to a legitimate star.
Whether it’s running pick-and-rolls with Tatum or handling the ball and carefully carving up opposing defenses, often ending the play with a silky-smooth floater, White’s talent as a secondary ball-handler is elite.
His pick-and-rolls with Tatum even flip, as he’s been a useful screener for the Celtics star. The dual threat of two shooters and playmakers in the action makes it next to unstoppable for Boston.
The guard’s shot creation also proves very useful in big moments. On the nights when Tatum and Brown struggle, White is there to step up. Take Boston’s first-round series against the Miami Heat as a perfect example. In Game 4 of the series, White poured in 38 points on 15-of-26 shooting from the floor and 8-of-15 shooting from beyond the three-point line.
Meanwhile, White’s defense has earned him two straight All-Defensive nods.
At the point of attack, White is ferocious. He’ll stay with opposing players step-for-step, pestering every inch of the way. And just when they manage to slide by him, he jumps back into the play to block them from behind. It’s become his signature—almost as if he’s willing to let players get by him in the first place.
And away from the ball, White’s defensive skills become even more prevalent. The shot-blocker extraordinaire is amazing at staying in the right spots, timing up shots from even the tallest of defenders, and sending their attempts packing.
But above all else, the biggest reason why Celtics fans should be chomping at the bit to watch White play basketball again is his fluidity. The consistency with which he remains solid. The refusal to take plays off and the commitment to playing basketball the right way.
For some players, a bad game is characterized by mistakes compounded by more mistakes that lead to a loss for their team—whether it’s turnovers, terrible shot selection, or constant ball-stopping. Those issues almost never come up for White.
Every once in a while, he’ll make some silly slip-ups and turn the ball over a couple of times, but he rarely takes a bad shot. And when he does, he makes up for it on defense. He rarely loses his place on defense, and when he does, he hits a big shot on the other end.
For White, mistakes are temporary. He’s one of the highest-IQ basketball players in the NBA and never has any wasted motion when he’s on the court.
The Celtics don’t play again for over a month, and even then, the regular season doesn’t begin until the middle of October. So, until then, fans should just remember how fun it is to watch Derrick White play basketball and eagerly await their next chance to see him in action.
