Who Is Derrick White?
Derrick White is an American professional basketball player who plays guard for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Drafted 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2017, he was acquired by Boston in a midseason trade in 2022 and has since become a permanent fixture in the Celtics’ starting backcourt.
Standing 6'4" with strong positional size, White took an unconventional path to stardom, beginning his college career at Division II Colorado–Colorado Springs before transferring to Colorado and earning All-Pac-12 honors. That late-blooming trajectory is reflected in his NBA career, where year-over-year improvements have turned him from a role player into a borderline star-level contributor on a contender.
Recent Performance and Offensive Growth
Over the 2024-25 season, Derrick White delivered career highs in points, threes made and rebounds per game while also averaging nearly five assists, underscoring his growth as a complete offensive guard.[2][3] His shooting volume from beyond the arc climbed significantly, and he maintained strong efficiency, making him one of Boston’s most reliable perimeter threats.
With defenses focused on the Celtics’ primary scorers, White punished rotations by spacing to the corners and above the break, attacking closeouts and consistently making the extra pass. When injuries or rest kept top teammates out, he showed he could scale up, functioning as a primary creator and posting stretches of 20-plus points per night while keeping assist numbers high.[1][3]
Defense, Versatility and Team Impact
White’s reputation as a defender is one of the main reasons the Celtics trust him in closing lineups. He guards point guards and wings, navigates screens well and is particularly notable for his timing as a help defender, often blocking layups and floaters from behind or from the weak side, a rare shot-blocking presence for a guard.[1][4]
That two-way profile has made White a quintessential “connector” on a team built around stars. He balances the floor, stabilizes possessions when offensive sets break down and rarely makes poor decisions with the ball. As Boston continues to chase championships, his combination of shooting, secondary playmaking and elite team defense has elevated him from under-the-radar role player to one of the league’s most respected complementary guards.[2][3]