Last season, the Boston Celtics saw veteran point guard Marcus Smart rewarded for his efforts on the defensive end of the basketball floor.
Smart was awarded NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and rightfully so, as he dominated on the court defensively while helping the storied franchise reach the NBA Finals.
Although Smart won the NBA Hustle Award this season, it was Derrick White that was given some much-needed recognition for his efforts on the defensive end of the floor.
On Tuesday, the NBA announced who was named to the All-NBA Defensive First and Second Team, with White being named to the latter for the first time in his career.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talked about White making the All-NBA Defensive Second Team and how he deserves the honor via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston.
Joe Mazzulla reacts to Derrick White making all-defensive team ☘️#BleedGreen pic.twitter.com/voyQodkGKQ
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 9, 2023
White has played a major role for the Celtics in his second season in Boston, with the team leaning on the 28-year-old for his ability to be a game-changer defensively as well as offensively.
The former first-round pick of the San Antonio Spurs played in all 82 regular-season games for Boston this season, averaging 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists while shooting 46.2% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc.
In the NBA playoffs, White has increased some of those averages and percentages, with 14.8 points per game and shooting 51.9% from the floor and 42.6% from deep.
White has been an invaluable player for the Celtics, as Boston strives to make the Finals for a second straight season while sporting one of the best defenses in the league.
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