Derrick White wanted to settle a debate: he was out to prove he was the fastest player on the team.
Late in the fourth quarter on Sunday, he got his chance.
After Anthony Edwards missed a pull-up three, Jayson Tatum grabbed the rebound and fired an outlet pass to White. The pass sailed too far ahead, but White went full throttle, sprinting to chase it down and save the possession.
“We had a discussion about who is the fastest on the team, and I had to put my case in there,” White said after the game.
After tip-toeing the baseline, White reset with a pass to Jrue Holiday at the top of the key. Holiday then swung to a trailing Jaylen Brown on the wing, who caught the ball in rhythm and rose up for a catch-and-shoot three.
Brown buried it.
The triple ended up being the deciding blow in the Celtics' 107-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves—and also settled the debate over who is the fastest player on the team.
“He made me look good — or made me not look bad, I guess, by going to get it,” Jayson Tatum said. “But D-White is probably the fastest guy on our team. That was a hell of a play by him.”
It was the epitome of a classic “Derrick White play.” The kind of play that may not show up in the box score but completely changes the game—and helps Boston secure a win.
“D-White is a hell of a player. He is a big part of our success,” said Tatum. “He just always does the little things – does the big things as well. He hits big shots, makes big plays, gets blocks. We wouldn’t be who we are without him.”
Sunday afternoon was full of those signature Derrick White plays. Whether it was his effort on closeouts, his screening, his offensive reads that created opportunities for teammates, or his game-high 10 points in the fourth quarter, White’s fingerprints were all over the win. He finished with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%), a team-high nine rebounds, five assists, a steal, and two blocks.
“Sometimes it’s handling. Sometimes it’s screening. Sometimes it’s defense — running that loose ball down on that outlet pass,” Joe Mazzulla said. “He just makes big-time plays. He has the tendency to do that, but I think that’s really the identity of our team. People can make different types of plays at different times. You can have that trust and reliability.”
White embodies that identity. When the Celtics need someone to make a play, he’s often involved in some capacity. He’s a player they can count on to make a positive impact, even when he’s not directly involved in the action.
“He has an innate ability to process information quickly on the spot. That’s what makes him really good on both ends of the floor. He can make those bang-bang plays because he has full awareness of the details and what’s going on around him.”
That two-way impact was evident Sunday afternoon, particularly in the third quarter. White briefly lost track of Nickeil Alexander-Walker but quickly recovered, sending Alexander-Walker’s corner three-point attempt flying six rows back into the crowd. On the next possession, Edwards attempted a 17-foot floater over White, only to have his shot blocked as well.
“Because of him, we’re constantly changing matchups, coverages, situations — because of his ability to see it and communicate it,” added Mazzulla. “I think that’s one of the great relationships that I have with him, but also with the team. We see the game kind of similar and we’re able to communicate things differently.”
It’s come to be expected. Night in and night out, White delivers at an elite level on both ends of the floor. The Celtics know exactly what they’re getting from their All-Defensive guard. From his consistency to his effort and even his performance, nothing surprises his teammates anymore. Well, maybe one thing…
“He had nine rebounds tonight. That was surprising,” Tatum said with a smile.
There’s a reason White has become such a fan favorite in Boston. It’s not just his humble, easygoing nature and quiet confidence—it’s the fact that he shows up every night, consistently putting the Celtics in a position to succeed.
Since arriving in Boston in February 2022, White ranks third in plus-minus, behind only Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic. The Celtics have posted a 155-52 record over that span, along with 41 playoff wins and a championship. That’s no coincidence.
His talent is invaluable. It helped the Celtics reach the NBA Finals in 2022, win the championship in 2024, and will be central as they aim to return to the mountaintop this season.
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