MIAMI — Derrick White sported a different haircut, shot nearly four percentage points worse from three and didn’t initially want to leave when he found out the San Antonio Spurs traded him to the Boston Celtics in 2022.
“I saw that this morning. Three years is crazy. It’s been a good three years,” White said.
“Pop called me and came to my room … I was pretty upset when I got traded, but looking back, it was probably the best thing to happen to me and thankful for where I’m at.”
White later smiled remembering that he and Popovich initially went to separate rooms.
White later smiled remembering that he and Popovich initially went to separate rooms.
Now, White is a Celtics champion, received a long-term extension with the Celtics and has become a fan favorite who put in one of the great baskets in team history on the floor he stood on reminiscing about his time with the team on Monday. White’s game-winner in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals forced a Game 7 that nearly allowed Boston to achieve the first 0-3 comeback in NBA history. That loss, and the changes that followed, set in motion White becoming an indispensable Celtics starter.
