Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson turned heads on Sunday when he called Boston Celtics guard Derrick White a top-5 player in the NBA.
Following the Celtics-Cavs game (which Boston won), Boston's head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked to respond to Atkinson's huge compliment of White.
Mazzulla ultimately labeled the prompt a "loaded question" that could be taken in a myriad of different directions, but Joe didn't shy away from responding to the question, either.
Mazzulla lauded White's two-way impact and talent as a connector for Boston, alluding to Derrick's enduring value. Joe also made a reference to advanced analytics, suggesting that White's impact jumps off the page in that regard.
Joe Mazzulla on Kenny Atkinson saying Derrick White is a top-5 player in the NBA:
““I think one of the hardest things to do in the NBA is learn how to have complete confidence and also be a connector and make other people around you better, and I think he does both of that. So,… https://t.co/7DAgqxeULq pic.twitter.com/UfDLkmNDRm
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) March 8, 2026
White continues to fly under the radar as one of the NBA's most underrated players, even as he's seen his profile expand in the national spotlight since Boston's 2024 title.
White still hasn't been elected to an All-Star team, which doesn't align with his impact on winning.
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