Derrick White Is Redefining NBA Impact-Even Without the Shot Falling
There’s a saying that’s been around the NBA forever: “It’s a make-or-miss league.” But Derrick White and the 2025-26 Boston Celtics are putting that mantra to the test-and passing with flying colors.
White is in the midst of his least efficient scoring season as a pro, but you wouldn’t know it from the way he’s impacting games. Despite his shooting slump, he’s playing like one of the most valuable players in the league. That’s not hyperbole-it’s backed by the numbers, the eye test, and everything in between.
A Scoring Slump That Doesn’t Matter
Let’s start with the cold hard truth: Derrick White’s shooting has taken a dive. After three straight seasons with a true shooting percentage around 60%-a mark that put him among the top 25 guards in the league-he’s dipped to 52% this year.
That’s a steep drop, and by traditional standards, it should be a red flag. But here’s the twist: it hasn’t derailed his value one bit.
In fact, White ranks 11th in the NBA in Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM), a widely respected all-in-one metric. That puts him right behind names like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Luka Dončić.
These are MVP-level players. And Derrick White is right there in the mix-even while his shot isn’t falling.
So how is he doing it?
The Everything-Else Superstar
White is stuffing the stat sheet in ways that don’t always show up in a box score. He’s blocking shots like a big man, quarterbacking the offense like a seasoned floor general, and anchoring one of the league’s best defenses from the guard spot. It’s a rare combination, and it’s producing elite results.
Let’s talk on/off numbers. When White is on the floor, the Celtics have a +11 net rating-good enough to rank second in the NBA.
When he’s off? That number drops to +1.7, which would place them around 14th.
That’s a 9.3-point swing per 100 possessions. For context, here’s how that compares to some of the league’s biggest stars:
- Nikola Jokić: +15.2
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: +9.9
- Luka Dončić: +6.6
- Kevin Durant: +4.6
- Anthony Edwards: +0.3
White’s impact isn’t just All-Star level-it’s superstar level. Or, as he put it himself on a recent episode of his podcast White Noise:
“I don’t have All-Star numbers, just All-Star impact.” He’s not wrong.
The Best Defensive Guard in the League?
White’s defensive impact this season has been nothing short of historic. He’s averaging 1.4 blocks per game-an absurd number for a guard.
To put that in perspective, only three guards in NBA history have ever averaged at least 1.4 blocks per game: Michael Jordan (twice), Tracy McGrady (once-and he’s 6'8"), and now Derrick White. Not even Dwyane Wade, one of the best shot-blocking guards ever, reached that mark.
This isn’t just about counting stats, either. Advanced metrics show that opponents are shooting 5.1% fewer shots at the rim when White is on the court, placing him in the 97th percentile league-wide. When they do challenge him at the rim, they shoot 10.4% worse than their average-better than Rudy Gobert’s current mark of 10.1%.
In a Celtics system that often plays without a traditional rim protector-especially when Neemias Queta is on the bench-White’s ability to anchor the paint from the guard position has been a game-changer. He’s not just the best defensive guard in the league this year; he’s making a real case for being the most valuable defender, period.
Offensive Glue Without the Glamour
White’s shooting may be down, but he’s still a key cog in one of the NBA’s most efficient offenses. The Celtics have made ball security a core principle this season, and White has embodied that.
He ranks in the 90th percentile in turnover rate despite posting a career-high usage rate. That’s elite decision-making.
He’s also generating 14.2 potential assists per 100 possessions, which puts him in the 95th percentile. That means he’s not just protecting the ball-he’s creating for others at a high level.
And when he’s on the floor, the Celtics play faster, finish better at the rim, and get more quality looks. He’s the kind of player who makes everyone around him better.
Need proof? Just ask the newest Celtic, Nikola Vučević.
If you’re a player who’s been traded midseason, there may be no better landing spot than Derrick White’s lineup. He’ll make you look like you’ve been there all year.
The Unquantifiable: Derrick White Plays™
There’s one more layer to White’s game that analytics can’t quite capture: the “Derrick White play.” These are the hustle moments, the chaos plays, the momentum-shifting sequences that don’t show up in a box score but swing games all the same.
Maybe it’s a perfectly timed rotation. Maybe it’s a deflection that leads to a fast break.
Maybe it’s a steal that looks like it was pulled off by Spider-Man himself. Whatever it is, it’s real-and it’s part of what makes White so special.
He’s the kind of player who does the little things so consistently that they start to feel like big things. And when you stack enough of them together, you get a player who can shift the trajectory of a game-or a season.
A Reflection of the Celtics’ Identity
In many ways, Derrick White is the embodiment of this Celtics team. Boston ranks just 15th in true shooting percentage this season, but they’re second in offensive efficiency.
How? By taking care of the ball, playing smart, defending like madmen, and doing all the little things that win games.
Joe Mazzulla’s squad doesn’t need to shoot the lights out to dominate. They’ve built an identity around toughness, intelligence, and trust. And Derrick White is at the heart of it all.
So no, it’s not just a make-or-miss league anymore. Not if Derrick White has anything to say about it.