One could make the argument that outside of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Derrick White was the Boston Celtics' most valuable player in the 2022-23 NBA season.
White was the only Celtic to play in all 82 games, starting in 70 of them. Acquired from the San Antonio Spurs ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, he showed tremendous improvement as a shooter in his first full season in Boston and shined as a defender throughout the campaign.
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"That was the first time he'd been traded midseason," NBC Sports Boston sideline reporter Abby Chin said. "He came into a team that was already rolling. So to have to find your role and your identity amongst a group of guys who were very established already to that point is a challenge. ... He worked all summer knowing what role he would have to play on this team and he has done it to perfection."
Our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg and analyst Eddie House believe the biggest differences for White this season have been his confidence and comfort levels.
"There was definitely a hesitancy to Derrick's game, and it's understandable," Forsberg said. "You come into this new situation, you're on this super talented team, and you've got to kind of pick your spots."
"You don't want to step on anybody's toes, you might defer when you need to be aggressive," House added. "I think he's just been super comfortable this year."
Boston Celtics
Many, including Forsberg, have petitioned for White to make an NBA All-Defensive team after his stellar 2022-23 season. White led all NBA guards in blocks with 76 and was among the league leaders in charges taken.
"I think a lot of people don't give him credit for his defensive acumen and his defensive IQ as well. He gets strips, he guards multiple positions," House said.
As for his offense, White averaged 12.4 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and a career-best 38.1 percent from 3-point range.
"The difference this year, he's doing the exact same thing, his role is almost identical, but he's really shooting the ball at a high clip," our Brian Scalabrine said. "He is the perfect addition to what this team needed last year and he's just much better this year at making shots and being more efficient."
Watch the video above to hear everything our team had to say about White's successful second season with the C's.