The Boston Celtics have consistently had two All-Stars over the previous four years: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
After a championship in which the team went 80-21, it might finally be time to give them a third All-Star.
Enter Derrick White.
In the NBA’s first fan voting returns, White is 10th amongst guards in the Eastern Conference. Let’s discuss why those numbers should be up.
Why Derrick White?
White, a two-time All-Defensive Team member, is playing the best basketball of his career. The 30-year-old is averaging a career-high in points (17.1), shooting 45.2% from the field and 39.2% from three on 9.1 3PA/G.
Although the stats are not the flashiest, White’s impact cannot go underlooked. The Celtics are 161-55, with the former Colorado Buffalo playing since acquiring him from the San Antonio Spurs.
The Colorado native has improved each year with the Celtics, improving his points per game from 11.0/G in year one to now 17.1/G in year four.
His defensive presence has been the strongest part of his game, as the guard has received two All-Defensive Second Team honors in his time with the Celtics. White has continually made it his goal to average a block a night and continues to do so (1.2 BLK/G). He also has added 0.9 STL/G, bringing him up to about 2.1 stocks a night.
Difficulties
The only issue with White’s candidacy? The depth of the star guards in the Eastern Conference.
Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young, Jalen Brunson, Darius Garland, Cade Cunningham, Tyler Herro, and Tyrese Maxey are also fighting for spots to represent their conference in San Francisco.
Ball, Mitchell, Lillard, and Brunson all feel like guarantees to secure a spot. Cade Cunningham is averaging career highs across the board for the Detroit Pistons, and he feels like he should get in.
White’s candidacy becomes extremely difficult when considering the talent level of guards in the East. However, it does feel like the 6-foot-4 guard has finally earned his chance to add “1x NBA All-Star” to his Basketball-Reference page.
The Celtics are 0-1 when #9 has missed a game this season. Though it was to the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston looked significantly worse without its shot-blocking guard.
Speaking of, there’s been no guard better at blocking shots than Derrick White. He currently sits 18th in the NBA in blocks per game. All 17 players in front of him are either centers or power forwards.
A 17-point-per-game scorer who shoots 40% from three and is 18th in the league in blocks a night at 6-foot-4. Derrick White should be on a plane to San Francisco in February to represent the Eastern Conference, and to get there needs YOUR vote:
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