Derrick White
Getty
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White is listed on the official injury report for Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks.
Dwyane Wade wants Derrick White to win Defensive Player of the Year.
The Hall of Famer made his case for the Boston Celtics guard on Friday night, and he did not hold back.
“I’m tired of the bigs hogging all the Defensive Player of the Year love,” Wade said. “Can we give it to the guards a little bit? I got Derrick White for Defensive Player of the Year.”
Wade’s endorsement carries weight. He is one of just four players under 6-foot-5 inNBA history to reach 500 career blocks, a milestone White achieved earlier this season. Wade knows what elite guard defense looks like, and he believes White deserves recognition for what he has accomplished this year.
The timing of Wade’s comments is significant. White has been on an absolute tear defensively over the last few weeks, and his performance has positioned him as a legitimate DPOY candidate.
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Dwayne Wade starting a Derrick White DPOY campaign
“I’m tired of the bigs hogging all the Defensive Player of the Year love. Can we give it to the guards a little bit? I got Derrick White for Defensive Player of the Year.”
Derrick White’s Historic Defensive Season for the Celtics
Derrick White
GettyDerrick White is one of the best two-way players in the NBA today.
White is having a career year on the defensive end.
He is averaging 1.5 blocks per game through 39 games this season, a career high. That might not sound like much, but for a 6-foot-4 guard, it is exceptional.
His seven-block performance against the Utah Jazz at the end of December tied an NBA record for most blocks in a single game by a guard. That was not a fluke. White has been swatting shots consistently all season.
White reached the 500th block of his career earlier this season, making him just the fourth player under 6-foot-5 in NBA history to reach that milestone, according to Celtics Stats.
White joined Dennis Johnson, Dwyane Wade, and former Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday in that exclusive club. Wade’s presence on that list makes his endorsement of White even more meaningful.
White has already made two NBA All-Defensive Teams in his career, and he is on track to make a third this year. He has never won Defensive Player of the Year, but he has received votes for the award in each of the last two seasons. This year, he should receive even more support.
How Boston Dominated the Hawks on Saturday
White’s defensive dominance has been a major factor in Boston’s success this season.
The Celtics improved to 26-15 on Saturday night with a 132-106 blowout win over the Atlanta Hawks. Jaylen Brown led the way with 41 points, and Sam Hauser added 30 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting from three-point range.
Boston put the game away in the second quarter, outscoring Atlanta 52-31 to take an 82-51 lead into halftime. The Celtics shot 19-of-25 from the field in the quarter, including 11-of-15 from beyond the arc. Hauser was perfect on all six of his three-point attempts in the period, and Brown had 29 points by halftime.
Brown flexed his muscles for the State Farm Arena crowd after a strong drive to the hoop in the final seconds of the half, as if to say the Hawks had no chance of stopping him. He and Hauser combined for 50 points by halftime, nearly outscoring the entire Atlanta team.
Anfernee Simons chipped in with 14 points, connecting on 4-of-8 from three-point range. The Celtics reached triple figures well before the midway point of the third quarter and stretched their lead to 43 points before both teams cleared their benches.
Atlanta shot a miserable 37% from the field and dropped its third straight game following the blockbuster trade that sent star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Onyeka Okongwu led the Hawks with 21 points, but it was not nearly enough.
The win sets up a marquee matchup on Monday when the Celtics travel to Detroit to face the East-leading Pistons in a battle of the top teams in the conference.
Why White Deserves Celtics Fans’ DPOY Support
Defensive Player of the Year has traditionally been dominated by big men.
But White’s case is compelling. His shot-blocking numbers are historic for a guard. His ability to defend multiple positions has been critical to Boston’s success. And his impact on the Celtics’ defense extends beyond the box score.
White is a smart, disciplined defender who rarely makes mistakes. He contests shots without fouling. Disrupting passing lanes comes naturally to him. He communicates on the back end and keeps teammates in the right positions. Those contributions do not always show up in the stat sheet, but they matter.
Wade’s endorsement highlights the frustration that elite perimeter defenders face when competing for DPOY recognition. Bigs have an inherent advantage because their defensive impact is more visible. Rim protection is their calling card. Shot alteration follows. Rebounding completes the package.
But guards like White do the dirty work on the perimeter, navigating screens, fighting through contact, and chasing shooters around the floor. That work is just as valuable, even if it does not always receive the same recognition.
Final Word for the Celtics
Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Celtics
GettyDerrick White of the Boston Celtics talks with Jaylen Brown during the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bulls.
Dwyane Wade believes Derrick White should win Defensive Player of the Year.
White’s historic shot-blocking numbers, his ability to defend multiple positions, and his overall defensive IQ make him a legitimate candidate. Being one of the best defenders in the NBA all season, his recent play has only strengthened the case.
Whether White wins the award remains to be seen. But Wade’s endorsement carries weight, and it should spark a larger conversation about how voters evaluate perimeter defenders.
The Celtics are 26-15 and sitting second in the Eastern Conference. White has been a major reason for that success. If Boston continues to win and White keeps swatting shots at a historic rate, he will be hard to ignore when DPOY votes are cast.