NBA G League Alum Derrick White's Star Is Starting To Rise
From G League champ to NBA postseason hero, some are starting to take notice of Derrick White as the Celtics gear up for another potential championship run.
Forget players who want to “Be Like Mike.” D’Angelo Russell wants to be like (Derrick) White.
Because he shares the court with the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Russell — a former NBA all-star in his own right, — is focused on doing more of the little things to make an impact this coming season. That includes diving for loose balls, providing that extra hustle on the defensive end, and just doing positive things without the ball. Much of that describes White to a tee.
“My inspiration has been Derrick White,” Russell said (via The Athletic). “I want to be Derrick White. He doesn’t get a lot of credit for what he does. He makes all the winning plays. That’s who I want to be.”
It’s true: White doesn’t often get the recognition he deserves. Recently omitted from ESPN’s Top 100 list (ranking the best players ahead of the upcoming season), the 29 year old has long been an underdog throughout his career.
White was recruited out of high school, but more so from schools known for things like culinary arts than basketball. He eventually hit the collegiate hardwood playing for a DII school, and though he went on to transfer to a D1, he used his first NBA paycheck to pay off student loans. Translation: the future NBA player wasn’t even afforded a scholarship.
Thus, being underrated is nothing new for White, but perhaps his star is finally beginning to rise as others feel slighted on his behalf. Russell wasn’t the only one singing his praises: in fact, retired NBA player turned analyst JJ Redick was appalled by White’s ESPN snub.
“Of these 150 people who claim to be basketball experts, how is Derrick White not in the top 100? How is that possible? He’s a top 50 player,” Redick said on his podcast, The Old Man and the Three Things. “What playoff games were you watching last year?”
Perhaps those overlooking White weren’t watching his Eastern Conference Finals heroics last season, when he came out of nowhere after an inbound pass to hit a game-winning Game Six shot, helping the Celtics put pressure on the Heat and force a pivotal Game 7.
This, of course, wasn’t the first time White put a hero-cape on. Did you know he’s not just an NBA G League alum, but a minor league champion? On assignment from San Antonio, White rose above to help the Austin Spurs win the 2018 championship.
Alas, he quickly became accustomed to the big stage back then, even if he continued to fly under the radar while doing so.
Here’s a look at some of White’s accomplishments, both past and present, as he makes his mark.
Leading Austin to an 18-6 record in the games he played in during the 2017-2018 season, White was the only NBA G League player that season to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in at least 20 games.
He won the 2018 NBA G League title, tallying back-to-back 35 point performances (including Game 1 of The Finals) in the midst of the Spurs’ postseason run.
Becoming known for doing all the little things in the NBA, White earned 2022-2023 NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors for the Celtics.
He hit the game-winning shot in Game Six of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.
A true postseason stud, White became just the third player (along with Donovan Mitchell and Kawhi Leonard) to boast a a 50/45/90 shooting clip on 200+ points in a single playoff run (via StatMuse).
White’s been putting in the groundwork for quite a while and he’s never needed the fanfare that comes along with it for some. But it’s clear he’s beginning to get the recognition he deserves.
The NBA G League helped the Spurs breed a champion, and now the ball is in White’s court to see if he can do his part to help the Celtics win a championship at the next level.