Derrick White’s journey from San Antonio to Boston wasn’t just a trade, it was a moment straight out of a sitcom, delivered with Gregg Popovich’s signature deadpan humor. Now a key piece of the Boston Celtics‘ championship core, White took time on his newly launched podcast, White Noise, to hilariously recount how he found out he’d been traded to the Celtics and how it unfolded in true Pop fashion.
“Getting traded is crazy. We’re in Atlanta, Pop walks into the room and says, ‘Hey, we traded you.’ And doesn’t say anything else. I’m like, ‘To where?’ He was like, ‘We wouldn’t f**k you, we sent you to Boston.’ I was like, ‘That’s cool. I think I’ll fit well there.’”
That trade, made during the 2021–22 season, sent White to Boston in exchange for Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick. At the time, it was seen as a solid move for both sides.
In hindsight, it helped form one of the NBA’s best defensive backcourts and gave Boston a gritty, versatile two-way guard who would later help them win their 18th NBA title.
But the story didn’t end with Pop’s blunt announcement. White remembered how Brendan Bowman, a Spurs staffer, reached out after the news with the perfect text: “You want me to get you a bottle?”
Naturally, White agreed. The two sat down to drink and play dominoes, a strange but fitting farewell, only for chaos to strike again.
“Will’s like, ‘We’re going to try to get you on this flight that leaves in like an hour and a half… can you pack up and go?’ I’m like, okay, yep.”
Fast forward to now, and White has gone from shocked trade target to championship pillar. In Boston, he’s flourished under a structured system that values defense, intelligence, and unselfish play, all qualities White exemplifies. His role particularly special during the 2023–24 season, where the Celtics dominated their way to the NBA title.
After the title win, the Celtics rewarded White with a well-deserved four-year, $125.9 million contract extension. He averaged 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this past season on 44.2% shooting from the field and 38.4% from three-point range.
Although the Celtics were unable to defend their championship in 2024–25, White remains a key piece of their core. Boston reportedly shut down all trade inquiries for him, signaling how vital he remains to their long-term plans.
In the end, Gregg Popovich might have delivered the news like a dad dropping off a kid at college, no sugarcoating, no tears, just a simple message. And as it turns out, he didn’t. Boston was the perfect fit.
