Boston Celtics star Derrick White is one player who is healthy and will return to the team in 2025. In an offseason where Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet were given their walking papers, White comes back with a signed extension in hand.
Further, with Jayson Tatum expected to miss the season with a torn Achilles tendon injury, the Celtics are counting on White now more than ever. He was a player they certainly could not afford to be without.
White signed a four-year extension worth $125.9 million just weeks after leading the Celtics to the NBA title in 2024. The extension kicks in this season and runs through the 2028-2029 season.
Earlier this week, on his podcast, "White Noise," White discussed why he decided to stay with the Celtics and make a commitment through the end of the decade.
White, who turned 31 in July, said he would never want to play anywhere else but in Beantown.
"I'd never want to play anywhere else. I wanted to be in Boston. ... I've always said that," White said. "It was pretty simple, pretty straightforward. Signing that, I was super excited just to stay in Boston and continue to be a Celtic. Hopefully do great things in Boston. More years in Boston. This is what I want and this is what my family wants. "
He expounded on the fact the contract negotiations were very smooth.
"The third extension, was much, much more relaxed," White said on Monday. "Not down to the wire."
White also said he wanted to stay in Boston for personal reasons as his family enjoys the city and its surrounding areas.
"This is what I want. This is what my family wants," White said. "Boston's been good. My kids were born in Boston. That's really what it was about - where do I want to be, what's going to make me happy, and I knew that was going to be in Boston."
White came to Boston after beginning his career with the San Antonio Spurs. He has become a top-flight guard since being traded during the 2021-2022 season. He was a first-round pick of the Spurs in 2017 after playing one year of college basketball at Colorado.
He averaged a career-high 16.4 points last season and finished 10th in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He has established himself as a tremendous defender in addition to having a great shot from beyond the arc.