In an effort to capture his role and impact for the Celtics, I’ve compared Derrick White to many things: a shapeshifter, basketball chameleon, White Dwarf Star. This season, with White set to take on a new form, his star will shine even brighter.
Boston had the talent — and the pecking order — to let White lurk in the shadows a bit. His offensive load could comfortably flow up and down depending on the situation. There were scoring explosions where the offense ran through him, and nights where he picked
his spots with care on the way to a smooth 16 points.
That versatility is part of what makes White so unique and impactful. But with Jayson Tatum down, his versatile backcourt mate gone to blaze a new trail, and a 7’3 unicorn shipped to Atlanta, it’s now White’s turn in the spotlight.
As the interim Robin to Jaylen Brown’s Batman, White should effectively be the unquestioned second option. He’ll have the ball in his hands more than ever, and should be primed for a significant bump in production.
Last season, White’s 12.6 FGA per game was tied for the most of his career. It was also the 4th most on the Celtics, and put him 57th in the NBA. While Boston’s new additions and internal development will vie for shots, White is clearly at the front of the line for a promotion.
Of the 34 players who averaged 20+ points per game last season, only one — Austin Reaves — took fewer than 15 field goal attempts per game. At minimum, White should hit that threshold easily. With anywhere near his usual efficiency, he can easily surpass 20 PPG for the first time in his career.
It’s easier to make these projections than it is to fulfill them, but the playoffs offered a good look at how effortless it is for him to soak up more responsibility. He finished Boston’s two rounds last postseason averaging 18.8 PPG on 13.4 FGA, and delivered statement 30-point games in both matchups.
There will be off nights and growing pains, but allowing White the freedom to keep pushing his limits as a player is incredibly valuable at this stage in his career. He’s been on a constant upward trend since arriving in Boston, and now he has an opportunity to climb another rung in the NBA’s hierarchy.
With his defensive prowess well documented and respected nationally — even globally — White could force his way into the All-Star conversation with the boost of additional touches.
Boston needs this leap from White to steady them after a summer of change. If he can carry himself like a true second option, it eases the burden on Brown and creates a trickle-down effect for the rest of the roster. As White himself has benefited from, having a firm No. 1 and No. 2 lets everyone else slide naturally between different roles. For a Celtics team searching for contributors in a transitional year, that clarity is invaluable.
This is White’s moment to fully explore a new role and more responsibility. With the green light to create, he has the chance to expand his scoring arsenal and push himself in ways not typically afforded to established vets. White’s consistency — staying healthy, making smart decisions, and maintaining his two-way impact — gives the Celtics the flexibility to trust him night-to-night while others learn how they fit.
This expanded role gives White leeway to refine key parts of his game while adding new layers, too. Facing tougher defensive attention will push him to find different ways to generate offense. White has historically been deferential in nature, and comfortable conceding for the betterment of the team. This season is about leaning further into the fact that the Celtics benefit if he gets a bit more selfish in his approach.
When Tatum returns and White slides back into his complementary role, this experience should leave him an even more confident and dangerous player — one capable of defining his own impact on both ends of the floor.
He’ll carry lessons from the expanded responsibility, like how to handle more restrictive coverages, when to take over a game, and how to balance high-volume creation with efficiency.
The basketball shapeshifter is about to transform again, and it might just fuel the best season of his career.
