The Boston Celtics came into Monday night’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers looking to bounce back after a tough loss to the Chicago Bulls. And early on, they looked every bit like a team on a mission. One of the standout moments in the opening quarter came courtesy of Derrick White, who continues to show why he’s become one of Boston’s most trusted weapons on both ends of the floor.
Midway through the first, White caught a pass from Payton Pritchard and went to work. Isolated against Jrue Holiday-his former backcourt partner from the Celtics’ 2024 title run-White drove hard to the middle, stopped on a dime at the free-throw line, and used a crafty shot fake to get Holiday off balance.
With just enough space created, he calmly stepped around and floated in a smooth bucket. It was a small moment, but one that summed up White’s game: smart, composed, and always under control.
By halftime, Boston had built a comfortable double-digit lead, and White had quietly filled the stat sheet with six points, three assists, and a rebound in 16 minutes of action. Nothing flashy-just steady, efficient basketball. Which, frankly, has been the story of his Celtics tenure.
Since arriving in Boston ahead of the 2021-22 trade deadline, White has been a model of consistency. He’s the type of player who doesn’t always dominate the highlight reels but shows up where it counts-on the scoreboard, in the advanced metrics, and in the trust of his teammates and coaches. That was especially true during Boston’s 2024 championship run, where his two-way play and chemistry with Holiday helped anchor the team’s backcourt.
Coming into Monday night, White had suited up in 43 of Boston’s 45 games, logging over 34 minutes per contest. He’s averaging a career-best 17.6 points along with 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
While his shooting splits-38.8% from the field, 32.1% from deep, and 88.8% from the line-suggest he’s had to grind for his points, the impact goes beyond the percentages. White brings balance to Boston’s offense, toughness to its defense, and a level-headed presence that every contender needs.
Derrick White got his old teammate Jrue Holiday with this shot fake 😲
— Celtics Nation (@CelticsNationCP) January 27, 2026
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Drafted 29th overall in 2017 by the San Antonio Spurs, White spent four and a half seasons developing under Gregg Popovich before making his way to Boston. Since then, he’s evolved from a solid role player into a core piece of a championship-caliber team. And if the first half against Portland was any indication, he’s not slowing down anytime soon.