Derrick White gets candid about ‘different’ Celtics season

The Boston Celtics may very well be watching a bridge season in 2025-26. 

After securing their sought-after 18th championship in June 2024, Boston’s hopes of creating a sustainable title contender suffered severe setbacks over the previous couple of months. 

The Celtics acquired a devastating blow throughout the 2025 playoffs after famous person ahead Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon — which might sideline him for your entire 2025-26 marketing campaign. 

However past the absence of Tatum, what was as soon as a loaded depth chart in Boston was decimated this offseason given the looming luxury-tax penalties that have been set to hamper the Celtics’ fiscal flexibility for the foreseeable future. 

To be able to minimize payroll, Boston traded away two starters in Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis to alleviate the luxury-tax infractions. With restricted spending energy readily available, the Celtics have been additionally unable to retain key lineup fixtures in Luke Kornet and Al Horford in free company.

Boston nonetheless has some star energy in place subsequent season with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard main the way in which.

However talking on his “White Noise” podcast, White was candid in regards to the totally different dynamics at play for the Celtics going into the 2025-26 season. 

“It’s positively going to be totally different. It needs to be. “We misplaced KP, Jrue, Luke, and clearly JT being out. So, you lose three out of 5 starters. And even Al. So it’s positively going to alter,” White said. “We’re a youthful workforce. Type of ever since I’ve been in Boston, we’ve had the identical core. We’ve had the identical group. … I feel that’ll be most likely the most important adjustment — simply getting everyone accustomed to how we do issues in Boston and the way we prefer to play, how we function. So I feel that would be the greatest adjustment, simply getting the brand new guys on board as shortly as doable.

“Clearly, we’ve acquired coaching camp and every part, and I’ve heard everyone is already on the market (in Boston) just about, so that they’re already most likely getting a begin. However then we’re simply hooping. We’ve acquired a bunch of opponents.”

Even with Boston’s cap-related strikes and the next turnover, the Celtics might have conceivably positioned themselves as a tricky out subsequent season with a wholesome Tatum nonetheless in place alongside Brown and White. 

However now, the Celtics are largely caught in limbo this winter as they await Tatum’s return from an in depth rehab.

“I don’t know what my position goes to be sport to sport, and I form of don’t wish to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve to do that. JT’s out, so now I’ve to,’” White mentioned. “I don’t wish to put myself in that thoughts. Clearly, I’ve been working arduous and attempting to determine how I can get higher, however I really feel like if I put myself in that mindset, I’m going to simply perhaps press or do one thing that’s not me. 

“I’ve acquired to remain true to who I’m, what makes me profitable, so I don’t know what the position’s going to be. No matter it is perhaps, I’m simply attempting to compete, I’m attempting to assist us win as many video games as doable, and I’m actually excited.”

Even when Boston isn’t seen as a authentic championship contender this 12 months, White believes that underdog label ought to inspire a Celtics roster that also believes it has extra to provide this winter. 

“We’ve acquired a variety of expertise, and we’ve acquired an amazing teaching workers, so it’s going to be a enjoyable 12 months,” White mentioned. “(That is the) first time since I’ve been in Boston that folks, like, don’t consider in us, in order that’s a enjoyable spot for me to be in, for certain. It’s form of the place I’ve at all times carried out my finest, truly.”

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author masking the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Purple Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.