Derrick White’s Quiet Dominance: Why NBA Coaches Are Calling Him an All-Star (and Maybe Even Defensive Player of the Year)
BOSTON - Before the Celtics even tipped off against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t hesitate when asked what he expected from this year’s Boston squad. Carlisle’s been around the league long enough to know when something special is brewing - and for him, the Celtics’ success this season is no surprise.
The first name out of his mouth? Derrick White.
“Derrick White is an All-Star,” Carlisle said without needing much prompting. “He’s an All-Star player. I mean, the guy is 8th in the league in blocked shots.”
That’s not a throwaway comment. That’s a veteran coach, who’s seen just about everything this league has to offer, going out of his way to spotlight a player who doesn’t always get the headlines - but always shows up on the game tape.
Carlisle didn’t stop there. He praised Jaylen Brown’s continued evolution, Payton Pritchard’s development, Sam Hauser’s shotmaking, and Joe Mazzulla’s creative offense.
But it was the unsolicited praise for White that stood out. Because while Boston’s backcourt has been rock-solid all year, White’s name hasn’t been circulating in All-Star conversations the way some expected coming into the season.
The Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Let’s get this out of the way: White’s shooting numbers are down. He’s averaging career-highs in points (17.7) and assists (5.4), but he’s also shooting a career-low 39.1% from the field and just 32.4% from beyond the arc - his second-lowest mark from three in the NBA.
But Carlisle wasn’t talking about shooting percentages. He was talking about impact. And that’s where Derrick White’s game lives.
“He’s such an important part of their team,” Carlisle said. And he’s not wrong.
Jaylen Brown, who was just named an All-Star starter for the first time in his career, echoed that sentiment - and then some.
“D-White has been a two-way player all year,” Brown said. “And I know we live in an era where that doesn’t get as much praise or respect, but that contributes to winning a lot.”
Brown made it clear: White’s not just an All-Star because of what he does on offense. It’s the complete package - the defense, the effort, the consistency - that makes him elite.
Even in a Slump, White Moves the Needle
Over his last five games, White has hit a rough patch offensively - averaging just 10 points on 30.2% shooting. But here’s the kicker: the Celtics have outscored opponents by 76 points with him on the floor during that same stretch.
That’s not a fluke. That’s a player who affects the game in ways that go way beyond the box score.
“He’s not defined by shooting efficiency,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “To me, that’s a bonus.”
Mazzulla rattled off a laundry list of things White brings to the table: pick-and-roll ball handling, 2-on-1 reads, defensive versatility, backtips, transition defense - basically all the little things that don’t show up in highlight reels but win basketball games.
And here’s the stat that drives it all home: White leads the Celtics in plus-minus this season with a +275. That’s not just a nice number - that’s elite.
The League Is Taking Notice
It’s not just Carlisle and Mazzulla who are singing White’s praises. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t mince words last month when he called White “the most underrated player in the league.”
That’s high praise from one of the most respected minds in basketball - and it speaks to the quiet, relentless way White impacts the game.
Now, let’s talk defense.
A Legitimate Defensive Player of the Year Candidate
Jaylen Brown didn’t just stop at calling White an All-Star. He went a step further.
“I think Derrick is a first-team All-Defense type of ballot, or maybe even Defensive Player of the Year,” Brown said.
That’s not hyperbole. White is currently fourth in the NBA in “stocks” - the combined total of steals and blocks - and he’s averaging career-highs in both categories: 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Among players logging at least 30 minutes a night, White ranks second in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus (+2.1), trailing only four-time DPOY Rudy Gobert.
Oh, and he’s missed just one game all season.
He’s the best shot-blocking guard in the league. He guards multiple positions.
He communicates. He rotates.
He does the dirty work. And he does it every night.
“He’s always got a good chance of getting a stop, no matter who he’s guarding,” said Celtics big man Neemias Queta. “He’s really communicative, too. He’s a Swiss Army knife.”
Two-Way Star, Heavy Lifter
What makes White’s case even stronger is that he’s not just locking guys up on defense - he’s also carrying a significant load on offense. He’s Boston’s second-leading scorer behind Brown and holds the second-highest usage rate on the team (23%).
That kind of two-way responsibility is rare. And it’s exhausting. But White has made it look routine.
“You’ve got to give that respect to Derrick,” Brown said. “It’s not an easy job to do and play both ends of the ball at a high level for the duration of the season - and be available for a majority of the games. That’s extremely difficult.”
White’s been doing it all season. And it’s a big reason why the Celtics are sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Recognition May Be Slow - But It’s Coming
Will Derrick White be named an All-Star when the coaches select the reserves on February 1st? Maybe. Maybe not.
Is it too early to launch a full-on Defensive Player of the Year campaign? Probably. But make no mistake - he’s firmly in that conversation.
What’s clear is this: NBA coaches see what Derrick White brings to the table. They see the winning plays, the leadership, the consistency, the sacrifice. And while the stat sheets and highlight reels may not always capture it, the people who know the game best are making sure he gets his flowers.
“Regardless of what the stats look like,” Brown said, “Derrick White is an All-Star.”