The Celtics were one of the NBA’s premier defensive teams this season.
Boston allowed a league-low 107.2 points per game, while opponents shot just 44.2% from the field, the second-lowest mark in the NBA. They held teams under 100 points in 22 games, accounting for 26.8% of their schedule. Their 111.7 defensive rating ranked fourth-best in the NBA.
At the center of that success was Derrick White, who earned All-Defensive First Team honors for the first time in his career Friday night. He had previously made the Second Team twice (2022-23 and 2023-24).
The 31-year-old was the only guard selected to the first team, joining Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, and Rudy Gobert.
White, who has now finished in the top 10 of Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the last three seasons, continued to establish himself as one of the league’s most impactful defenders. He led all guards with 550 contested shots and 98 blocks. He also recorded 28 multi-block games, making him the only guard among 12 players league-wide to reach that mark.
His defensive season reached a historic level on Dec. 30 against the Utah Jazz, when he recorded a career-high seven blocks, tying the NBA record for most blocks in a game by a guard. He joined Doug Christie, Dennis Johnson, Tracy McGrady, and George Gervin in accomplishing the feat.
His 98 total blocks are the third-most on record by a player listed at 6-foot-4 or shorter since the NBA began officially tracking blocks in 1973, trailing only Dwyane Wade (106 in 2008-09) and David Thompson (99 in 1977-78).
White paired those 98 blocks with 88 steals (both career-highs), becoming one of just two players in the NBA this season to reach both marks alongside Toronto’s Scottie Barnes. In Celtics history, only Larry Bird, Reggie Lewis, and Dave Cowens have recorded at least 98 blocks and 88 steals in a season. White also became the franchise’s first player since Mark Blount in 2003-04 to total at least 90 blocks and 80 steals in the same year.
In total, opponents shot just 43.1% when defended by White, 3.4 percentage points below expectation. From beyond the arc, players shot only 33.2% against him. White also led the Eastern Conference in plus-minus (+598), the third time in the last four seasons he finished atop the conference in that category. The lone exception came in 2024-25, when he finished second.
“Just his versatility,” Joe Mazzulla said in March when discussing what stands out about White’s defense. “Everyone always talks about making guys around you better offensively. I think he makes guys around him better defensively. Just because of his communication, his positioning, his effort, and his IQ.”
White is now one of just 11 players in Celtics franchise history to earn at least three All-Defensive selections since the award was introduced in 1968-69. The list includes John Havlicek, Kevin McHale, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Dennis Johnson, Don Chaney, Marcus Smart, Larry Bird, Paul Silas, and Dave Cowens.
Neemias Queta (one First-Team vote, six Second-Team votes) and Jaylen Brown (two First-Team votes, three Second-Team votes) also received All-Defensive votes this season.
Boston could have further representation in the NBA’s postseason awards in the coming days, as the league will announce its All-NBA teams on Sunday and Coach of the Year on Tuesday night. A global media panel of 100 voters selects the winners.
