Derrick White isn’t just wearing the same Celtics jersey this season - he’s carrying a whole new level of responsibility in it.
While the headlines in Boston have often centered around Jayson Tatum’s MVP-caliber play or the addition of Jrue Holiday, it’s White who’s quietly taken on one of the most significant internal leaps. His evolution hasn’t come with a flashy scoring spike, but dig into the numbers and it’s clear: he’s become a central pillar in Boston’s offensive engine - without compromising his elite defensive presence.
Let’s start with the usage. White’s usage rate jumped by 4.7 percentage points from last season, one of the largest increases on the team.
And that’s without a noticeable uptick in minutes. He’s not just on the court more - he’s doing more when he’s out there.
The Celtics are trusting him with more decision-making, and he’s responding with some of the cleanest, most efficient basketball of his career.
His assist rate is up (+2.2%) and his turnover rate is down (-1.6%). That’s a rare and telling combo.
It signals a player who’s not only handling the ball more, but doing it with poise. He’s seeing the floor better, making quicker reads, and taking care of the rock - all while juggling a heavier offensive load.
And it’s not just about passing. White’s shot profile has shifted in a way that tells the story of a player creating more of his own offense.
Last season, 68% of his field goals were assisted. This year, that number’s dropped by 14%.
Translation: he’s initiating more, finishing less off others’ setups. He’s not just the guy on the receiving end of a drive-and-kick - he’s the one breaking down the defense.
That’s showing up in where and how he’s getting his shots. He’s attacking the rim a little less and taking fewer corner threes - the kinds of looks typically generated by others.
Instead, he’s operating more in the midrange, both short and long, and pulling up more often (up 4.1 attempts per game). These are tougher shots, often off the dribble, and they reflect a role that demands more on-ball creation.
But with that expanded role has come a dip in efficiency. His two-point and three-point percentages have both fallen, and he’s down 14 points per 100 shot attempts.
That’s not necessarily a sign of regression - it’s the cost of taking harder shots, often late in the clock or against set defenses. White isn’t just capitalizing on advantages anymore - he’s tasked with creating them.
And yet, through all of this offensive evolution, his defense hasn’t slipped. In fact, it’s gotten even sharper.
His block rate is up (+0.8%) and so is his steal rate (+0.5%), reinforcing what Celtics fans already know: he’s one of the best defensive guards in the league. With Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porziņģis no longer patrolling the paint, White has taken on more rim protection duties - and delivered.
So what we’re seeing from Derrick White this season is a player being asked to do more - and answering the call. He’s facilitating more offense, creating more for himself, defending at a high level, and doing it all with a level of control and maturity that’s easy to overlook unless you’re really watching.
Same jersey, yes. But a very different job - and White’s proving he’s more than up to the task.