Derrick White has carved out a special place in Boston. He’s become a fan favorite not just for his clutch shooting and gritty defense, but for the way he sacrifices his body night in and night out. He plays with an edge, a sense of urgency that fits the Celtics’ identity like a glove.
But as much as he’s earned the city’s respect, there’s no ignoring the numbers this season - and they tell a more complicated story. White is putting up a career-best 17.6 points per game, but it’s coming at the cost of efficiency. He’s shooting a career-low 39.1% from the field, and for a player who’s long been known for making smart, high-percentage plays, that dip is raising eyebrows.
This is the first year of a four-year, $118 million deal. At 31, White is no longer the young up-and-comer - he’s a core piece of a championship contender. So the Celtics have to ask the tough question: is this just a midseason slump, or the start of a decline?
The answer lies in the context - and this season has given White a radically different landscape to navigate.
A New Role, A Bigger Burden
Let’s start with the obvious: the Celtics aren’t the same team they were last year. Between offseason moves and Jayson Tatum’s recent injury, Boston lost nearly half of its scoring from the 2024-25 campaign. That’s a massive void to fill, and it’s forced everyone - especially White - to step up.
White has effectively become the team’s No. 2 option on offense. He’s second in points, assists, and usage rate, which tells you just how much of the offensive load he’s carrying. And while the Celtics have managed to maintain the league’s top offensive rating at 121.2, that success has come with a cost for White’s individual efficiency.
We expect some drop-off when a player takes on more responsibility, but the sharpness of White’s decline - more than five percentage points down from last season - is significant. That kind of drop begs a deeper look.
From Catch-and-Shoot to Create-and-Survive
What made White so valuable in Boston’s previous system was his ability to thrive off the ball. He was one of the most consistent catch-and-shoot threats in the league, knocking down 41.4% of those looks over the past two seasons. He didn’t need to dominate the ball to make an impact - he just needed space and a shooter’s rhythm.
But that rhythm is harder to find now. With fewer playmakers around him, White’s been forced to create more of his own offense.
According to Cleaning the Glass, 37% of his made threes this season have been unassisted - nearly double his previous career high of 20%. That’s a massive shift in shot profile.
His catch-and-shoot opportunities have plummeted, now making up just 27.1% of his total attempts. And when he is getting those looks, they’re not falling like they used to.
He’s shooting just 29.5% on catch-and-shoot threes this season. That’s not just a cold spell - that’s a sign of a player who’s being asked to do too much, too often.
This isn’t a knock on White. It’s just the reality of a bigger role.
When you’re the secondary scoring option, you don’t get to pick your spots as much. You have to create something out of nothing - even when your legs are tired and the defense is locked in.
The Quality of Looks Has Changed
Last season, White posted a career-high 58.0% effective field goal percentage. A big part of that was shot quality - 75.4% of his attempts were classified as open or wide open, per NBA tracking data.
This year, that number has dropped to 66.9%. That’s still solid, but it’s a clear shift.
And on those open looks, he’s shooting 37.8% - down from 41.6% last year. Not catastrophic, but enough to feel the difference.
The real issue comes when defenders are in his face. On tightly contested shots, White is hitting just 41.9%, a steep drop from last year’s 52.1%.
He’s still knocking down 37.5% of his wide-open threes, which suggests the stroke is still there. He just isn’t getting the same clean looks.
Is This a Slump - or Something More?
The Celtics are known for making tough decisions. They moved off Isaiah Thomas after an MVP-caliber season. They traded away Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis - all beloved, all gone in the name of long-term vision and championship contention.
So yes, if the front office believes White is entering a decline, history says they won’t hesitate to act. But that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
The numbers suggest this is more about circumstance than skill erosion. When Tatum returns and the offensive balance resets, White should see his shot profile improve - more catch-and-shoot looks, less off-the-dribble creation, and better overall efficiency.
And here’s the part that’s getting lost in the conversation: White is playing the best defense of his career. He’s averaging career highs in both blocks (1.9) and steals (1.6), and he’s the only guard in the NBA ranked in the top 10 in blocks. That’s elite-level rim protection from a backcourt player - a rare, invaluable asset.
He’s also grown as a passer, showing more poise and vision in pick-and-roll situations. That’s going to matter come playoff time, when defenses tighten and every possession counts.
The Bottom Line
Derrick White isn’t just a role player anymore. He’s a cornerstone of a team with championship aspirations.
The shooting slump is real, but it’s also understandable given the context. And if history tells us anything, it’s that White has the tools - and the mindset - to adjust.
The Celtics will keep a close eye on how he responds in the second half of the season. But based on everything we’ve seen from him over the past few years, he’s earned the benefit of the doubt. And if he comes out of this stretch sharper, stronger, and more battle-tested, it might just make him even more dangerous when it matters most.