Erik Spoelstra Makes Strong Claim About Celtics’ Derrick White
White has become the ultimate glue guy
After a slow start to the season, Derrick White has found his rhythm and is once again proving why he’s such an essential part of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation. On Friday, Dec. 19, White dropped 33 points, dished out six assists, grabbed five rebounds and swatted away four shots as the Celtics secured a win over the Miami Heat.
During his postgame news conference, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra shared his thoughts on White.
“I think he is the most underrated player in the league,” Spoelstra said. “The guy is an absolute winner, whatever role you put him in. Tonight, obviously, he showed to be a scorer in all the different facets … Defensively, he just does so many things … He’s the best shot-blocking guard in the league.”
Since joining the Celtics via trade with the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 10, 2022, White has developed into one of the best all-around guards in the NBA. This season, he’s operating in a significantly expanded role, both as a scorer and a playmaker, as the Celtics look to fill the gap left by Jayson Tatum’s injury-forced absence.
For the past two seasons, White has found himself on the fringes of the All-Star discussions as we’ve approached January and February. With his recent production for the Celtics, he could once again be an outside candidate to earn All-Star recognition this season.
Over 26 games this season, White is averaging 18.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists, shooting 40.4% from the field and 35.5% from deep. The fact that opposing coaches are now praising his overall impact is proof of the growth he’s shown since moving to Boston.
The Celtics will need White to sustain his current level of play if the team is to continue challenging for a high seed in the 2026 playoffs. After all, with Tatum sidelined, White is filling an important secondary role for the franchise.
