Derrick White finished the season in the 94th percentile league-wide for Estimated Plus-Minus, a stat showing a player’s impact on winning, a clear sign he was influencing games at an elite level despite what the box score might have told you. For the first time since he got to Boston, the trade machine rumors started swirling around White after a season of inefficiency and a really shaky playoff exit. The narrative was shifting, and it felt like that unshakeable trust from the fanbase wasn’t so unshakeable anymore.
The Grind of Stepping Up
Here’s the thing, appreciating White has always needed some nuance. You can’t just look at his raw shooting splits and think you get the whole picture. He can fill up a stat sheet, sure, but his true value comes from his fluidity and that intangible impact he brings every single night. He’s uniquely capable of flowing from being the first option all the way down to the fifth, depending on what the team needs. For a lot of guys, that kind of variance would be a red flag, but White has a proven track record of being scalable, seamlessly expanding or shrinking his role based on matchups or if a teammate is out. Last season, though, that scalability was pushed to its absolute limit. With Tatum and other key pieces from that championship roster missing, White had way less room to just lurk in the shadows. His spot in the offensive hierarchy became totally defined. He was forced into the most visible, most static role of his career, shouldering a heavy, unfamiliar creation burden. We saw him log eight games with a usage rate above 30 percent. And yeah, he stumbled, hitting a career-low 39.4 percent from the field and only 32.7 percent from deep. Those efficiency struggles just got worse under the postseason lights in that tough loss to the Sixers.
The Undeniable Impact
But if you actually look beyond the box score, the advanced metrics screamed that he was still deeply impactful. That 94th percentile EPM finish isn’t just a fluke. There’s a reason those metrics still love him so much. What’s even more impressive? White flat out refused to let his increased offensive workload compromise his defense. He averaged a career-high in steals and blocks. Boston’s defense was a staggering 7.1 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the floor. With him out there, they were an elite two-way team. Without him? They were a top offense, but totally lacked any defensive identity.
I said before last season that White taking on a larger role was gonna be good in the long run, and I still believe it. The experiment wasn’t perfect, no doubt, but the team greatly overachieved in the regular season with White helping to lead the way. That’s something to really hold onto as the season moves forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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