Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, drawing from his own experience, impressed upon the campers at Basketball Without Borders Asia 2025 that there’s no substitute for hard work.
SINGAPORE – Derrick White took a rather unconventional path to NBA stardom. He wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school and played for three years of NCAA Division II college basketball at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs before transferring to Division I University of Colorado for his senior year.
White did well enough in college to catch the eye of the San Antonio Spurs, who selected him with the 29th pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He split time with the Spurs and their G-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, in his rookie year, but it ended on a positive note as the Austin Spurs won the G-League title.
White’s time with the Spurs provided him with valuable training as he learned under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, one of the best NBA coaches of all time.
“It was amazing,” he told The GAME in an exclusive interview. “You just kind of learn how to make the right play. The little fundamentals of basketball that you learn your whole life. Learning under Popovich was amazing and I’m definitely thankful and blessed to be able to go into a situation like that.”
Of course, everyone knows that White was eventually traded to the Boston Celtics, with whom he won his first championship ring last year as a starter. To make things sweeter, a couple of months after winning the NBA title, White became an Olympic gold medalist with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 2024 NBA title, the Celtics’ first in 16 years and a league-leading 18th overall, was particularly sweet for White.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “It’s hard to win in that city. Just how the city embraced us and celebrated with us. It was really special.”
White’s success is a validation of his work ethic and approach to self-improvement.
“You have to continue to get better, you can’t just ask God,” he said. “Just continue to work hard and believe in myself and obviously playing with the guys I’m playing with makes it a little easier for me. I’m just thankful for the organization and my teammates.”
This tale of determination, of, self-belief, and of doing things the right way contains valuable lessons that Derrick White imparted to the young participants of the recently-concluded Basketball Without Borders Asia 2025 camp held from June 19 to 22 at the Singapore basketball Centre.
White spent those four days mentoring the teenage players, comprised of close to 60 boys and girls who came from various countries across Asia.
“They came in with the right mindset, played hard, played the right way,” he said. “Especially at this age, they’ve just got to continue to get better, continue to work hard and just keep believing in yourself.
“I just try to have fun with them, encourage them, give them more tips and then have a good time. Yeah, that’s what it’s all about, helping people that are going through a hard time or whatever the situation might be. I’m in a great situation and it’s good for me to give back to the community when I can.
“There’s going to be ups and downs in this game. You’ve just got to continue to work hard, continue to get better and just believe in yourself. You’ve got people around you that believe in you. I’m telling them to work hard, play hard, and that’s pretty much what I was telling them.”
His parting message to the campers?
“Just play the right way. I think that’s the most important part. Just continue to work hard, never be satisfied and just be a good listener. I think that’s really an important part of basketball and just how you can grow.”
As the 2024-25 NBA season came to a close Monday, White and the Celtics are looking at a challenging 2025-26 season with Jayson Tatum’s injury and Jrue Holiday’s trade to the Portland Trail Blazers. (Editor’s note: this interview with Derrick White took place three days before the Celtics traded Holiday.)
“Obviously losing JT (Tatum) is tough but we’re just going to do everything we can to get better and he’ll come back whenever he’s able to but that’s the expectation every time you put on that uniform and that’s the fun part.”
As the offseason is now in full swing, White said will ensure that he keeps his body ready.
“Staying active (is important),” he said. “Obviously, weight room and the basketball court. Doing extra shooting, extra running. Obviously, eating right is always important. Just got to do a little bit of everything to stay ready.
Regardless of who will be on the Celtics’ lineup on opening night, though, Derrick White knows the drill.
“Anytime you put on the Boston Celtics uniform, championship is the expectation. That’s what our mindset is and that’s just how it goes.”
Banner Image from the NBA/Basketball Without Borders