The 2025 NBA offseason has been tough for the Boston Celtics, as they have lost several talented players due to their desire to avoid the second apron of the league’s new salary cap. And yet, they still have one of the league’s best defenders, Derrick White, at their disposal.
With Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis getting traded, Luke Kornet (and likely Al Horford) leaving in free agency, and Jayson Tatum expected to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign with a torn Achilles, the talent level on the Celtics has decreased dramatically.
Jaylen Brown will be tasked with leading Boston forward, with White serving as his partner-in-crime. And while many fans may lament the team’s tough offseason, they were also given a quick reminder that there is still hope for this squad.
Ever since landing with the Celtics, White has turned himself into one of the most consistent players in the league. The focal point of his game is his defense, and in the upcoming NBA 2K26 video game, White was given the seventh-highest perimeter defense rating in the game.
White’s role with Boston grew once again last season, as he averaged career-highs in points (16.4) and rebounds (4.5) per game, while also dishing out 4.8 assists per game. And even though he didn’t earn a spot on one of the All-Defensive teams, White showed on a nightly basis that he was still one of the top defenders in the league.
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With so many players from last season’s team not being a part of their plans for the upcoming campaign, White’s role is likely going to grow again. He’s proven he can be a lethal secondary scorer, but he will be tasked with asserting himself even more on offense alongside Brown.
Of course, playing strong defense is also a big part of the equation, but at this point, that’s expected from White. With even more responsibility on his plate moving forward, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see White’s per-game numbers take another jump in the 2025-26 campaign.
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