Celtics’ Derrick White Secures Major Contract Bonus Vs. Hornets

White added to his annual salary Monday night

Derrick White of the Boston Celtics was one of the most effective two-way guards in the NBA going into Monday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, which helped earn the 29-year-old a sizable contract bonus.

White, who is expected to earn $35 million this season and the following, shot at a 40.1% percentage and was 21st among all players in 3-pointers made (184). That moved White to within just three games of the number required to qualify for a $500,000 contract incentive. And White took advantage of that little payday in the opening quarter to defeat Charlotte 118-104.

Playing in tandem with fellow backcourt mate Jrue Holiday to form the NBA’s most dangerous defensive guard duo, White has gradually catapulted his stock value since arriving to the Celtics in 2022. Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens will be left with plenty to consider with White’s impending free agency quickly looming, along with Holiday (2024-25 player option) and Jayson Tatum’s (2026), too.

White was thrown into a starting role full-time this season, which was new for the eight-year veteran. But that promotion has paid its dividends to the league-best Celtics (59-16) who didn’t lose possession of the No. 1 seed since retaking it from the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 14. White is averaging a career-best 15.5 points with 4.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 46.6% shooting from the field.

Most recently, White was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week, averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 8.8 assists amid Boston’s last four consecutive win stretch.

According to CLNS Media, White told reporters in Atlanta last week, “I guess (being a starter) you just get more opportunity, more chances to be more aggressive.” “.. Just want to play aggressively and win us the game.”

Those opportunities will still exist and increase in value when the playoffs get underway. While maintaining his position as a team-first member of head coach Joe Mazzulla’s starting five, which has required and applied sacrifice since October’s Opening Night, White received notoriety as he made a strong case for an All-Star selection this season.