Nearly four years ago, the Boston Celtics made a move that didn’t exactly dominate headlines at the time-but it’s proven to be one of the most impactful deals of the Brad Stevens era. On trade deadline day, they acquired Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs. Fast forward to today, and White isn’t just a key contributor-he’s become a cornerstone of a championship-caliber roster and an indispensable part of the Celtics’ identity.
At 31, White is in the heart of his prime, and his value to this team goes well beyond the box score. His contract is team-friendly, his two-way impact is undeniable, and at this point, he’s as close to “untouchable” as it gets in Boston’s rotation.
But let’s be real-it wasn’t always this clear-cut.
When White first arrived in Boston, there were questions about his fit. His defense was as strong as advertised, but his three-point shot wasn’t falling with the kind of consistency that the Celtics needed from their backcourt. He was doing the dirty work-rotating, contesting, switching-but the offensive side of his game, particularly from deep, left some room for doubt.
Still, even in that early stretch, White was part of something special. Just months after the trade, he helped guide Boston to the 2022 NBA Finals. And while the Celtics fell short against the Golden State Warriors, that series lit a fire under White-thanks, in part, to a little bulletin board material from Draymond Green.
On a recent episode of his White Noise podcast, White recalled a moment that changed his trajectory.
“Game 1, I hit like six threes,” White said. “Then [Draymond] went on his podcast and was like, ‘Derrick hit six threes, but like, that’s not gonna beat us.’
In my mind, I was like, ‘I know what he’s talking about.’ In the long run, it didn’t beat them.
That was a real motivating thing for me to get in the gym, to get my shot more consistent so nobody guards me [like that] or treats me like that. If they leave me open, I’m gonna make them pay.
That was a big turning point for my career.”
That moment-Green’s dismissive comment-wasn’t just a soundbite. It became fuel.
And the numbers tell the story.
White shot just 30.6% from deep in his first 26 games with Boston. During that 2022 playoff run, he bumped it up slightly to 31.3%, but it was clear that opposing defenses didn’t fear his jumper. They sagged off, dared him to shoot, and often got away with it.
But that version of Derrick White doesn’t exist anymore.
In the seasons that followed, White transformed his perimeter game into a legitimate weapon. He shot 38.1% from three the next season, then 39.6%, and followed that with a 38.4% clip in the Celtics’ 2024-25 title-winning campaign. That’s not just improvement-that’s a complete evolution.
Now, when White spots up, Celtics fans aren’t holding their breath. They’re expecting the net to snap.
And while his shooting numbers have dipped a bit this season, there's no panic in Boston. The work he’s put in, the consistency he’s shown over multiple years, and his ability to impact the game on both ends give the Celtics every reason to trust him in big moments.
Derrick White isn’t just a great story-he’s a perfect example of what happens when talent meets accountability. He took a Finals gut-check and turned it into a career-defining stretch of growth. And now, he’s not just fitting in with the Celtics-he’s helping define who they are.