The Boston Celtics are entering a transition campaign as they will not begin the season as a title contender for the first time in years. Following Jayson Tatum's injury and the departures of Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics are not the same team they have been in recent seasons. Once one of the deepest and most talented groups in the NBA, the Celtics are now a more humble team with major weaknesses.
This creates an opportunity for the players on the roster. While every player would love to contend for championships, there is also a benefit to individual development in a larger role. That is what Derrick White has to look forward to ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. In fact, the veteran guard has a chance to have a huge breakout season for the Celtics next year.
Derrick White Will Have an Unexpected Breakout Season in 2025-26
One can scoff at the idea that White can reach another level in his age-31 season. He has already been playing at a near-All-Star level and has emerged as one of the best two-way guards in the league. Can he really have another gear to hit?
The answer is unequivocally yes. As good as White has been as a Celtic, thriving in a three-and-D role, he has been underutilized in Boston. His usage rate never reached the average starter-level of 20% as a Celtic, despite being one of the most efficient guards in the league. During his time with the San Antonio Spurs, White had a larger on-ball role, running pick-and-rolls and creating his own shot. He will likely take on more of those types of responsibilities next season in Boston.
This could take away some of White's efficiency and lower his three-point accuracy. Yet, that should be a trade-off that the Celtics should be happy with, as they will desperately need more shot creation and playmaking.
White has been a late bloomer throughout his career. He received no scholarship offers to play college basketball and ended up in a Division II program, Colorado-Colorado Springs. He eventually transferred to Colorado before entering the NBA as a 23-year-old.
His meteoric rise continued in the NBA as he went from a subpar shooter to one of the best shooters in the league. He has also shown massive improvement on the defensive side of the ball, establishing himself as one of the best in his position, earning Defensive Player of the Year votes in the past two seasons.
Considering that White just had the best season of his career during the 2024-25 campaign and improved every single year of his NBA tenure should give Celtics fans plenty of optimism that he could thrive in a larger role. They should be preparing for perhaps the first All-Star selection of White's career, even if the Celtics' season doesn't go according to plan.