If you ask Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla if Celtics floor general Derrick White is an All-Star, you won’t get much hesitation in his reply. In fact, he didn’t even let a reporter finish his question to that effect before blurting out “He’s an All-Star,” per The Athletic’s Jared Weiss.
“He’s my coach, that’s what he’s supposed to say, right?” said White when informed what his coach had said about the question, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to deny that the Colorado native is playing like one of late. “I’m just trying to win games,” added White. “That’s what I’m focusing on right now. Just do whatever I can to help us win.”
And that is exactly what he has been doing as the team’s leading rebounder (5.1 per game), and pickpocket (1.3 steals per game), while being the team’s second-best rim protector (1.2 per game), fourth-highest scorer (16.5 per game), and second-best shot from beyond the arc (42.9% from deep).
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The logistical challenges of the fan vote make a starting spot out of the question, but with this sort of play becoming a staple for White, a sustained effort like this might actually get the Colorado alum in for his first All-Star nod from the coaches to come off the bench.
And it certainly wouldn’t be a gimmick if he were to, given the receipts.
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