When talking about the most impactful players in the NBA, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, or LeBron James often headline the conversations. Franchise stars or MVP-type talent often dominate these conversations and get much of the sunshine.
When one thinks about how the Boston Celtics have separated themselves from the rest of the NBA this season, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s All-Star level play would likely be the top-of-mind answer. Some may even point to the acquisitions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in the offseason for elevating the Celtics to a tier of their own in the NBA.
Derrick White is one player who often gets lost in the shuffle in these kinds of conversations — both across the league and even with his own team.
Talks about the league’s most underrated player are where White’s name usually pops up first. His teammate Jaylen Brown said it himself during All-Star Weekend when he was asked to name the most underrated player in the NBA.
When White arrived in Boston via trade two years ago, he was initially a reserve guard who came off the bench behind Smart. The Celtics elevated him to the starting five last season, and he has since eased into that Swiss Army knife role that Celtics fans have grown to love. And this season, the 29-year-old has taken his play up another notch.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown get most of the spotlight for leading this epic Celtics campaign so far. But White has flown under the radar as arguably the Celtics’ most vital piece that connects everything in their championship puzzle.
White has been the beneficiary of an increased role with the departures of former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon last summer. Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the deal that landed Porzingis in Bean Town, while Brogdon was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Holiday.
With the Celtics losing a couple of key backcourt players from last year, White has seen an uptick in playmaking duties this season. His usage rate increased from 17.7 to 18.9 this year and his pick-and-roll frequency as a ballhandler went up from 23.5 to 27.6.
