Derrick White

The price of adding an NBA title to complement his already-commendable reputation, as Derrick White would soon discover, turned out to be a literal tooth. Not that it mattered in Game Two; with the Dallas Mavericks on the cusp of escaping the jaws of defeat, the gifted combo guard produced the type of play that often speaks for itself. Suddenly in need of a momentum-shifting sequence with the Boston Celtics’ once-dominant 14-point lead trimmed to just five, White accepts the challenge, bolting from one end of the floor to the other in preparation of a signature move. Predictably precise in timing his leap, White soars through the air, meeting P.J. Washington’s layup attempt with a clutch, cold-blooded swat. Experienced enough to teach a clinic on come-from-behind blocks, White’s final-minute rejection on June 9, 2024 helped extinguish Dallas’ red-hot rally, spurring Boston on for a 2-0 advantage. It served as perhaps the most impactful of White’s 23 postseason blocks, a number that placed him at No. 5 and among the NBA’s giants despite being 6-foot-4. Versatile in his approach, White’s box score ultimately concluded with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, two blocks, and four 3-pointers.

Championship Year