S2E5: NBA Trade Deadline from Derrick White’s Perspective

Derrick White’s road to becoming a member of the Boston Celtics is one of the most unique paths you’ll ever hear. During this episode, he takes you deep into the moment when Gregg Popovich knocked on his door on the day of the trade deadline, and what ensued during the minutes, hours and days afterward. Later on, he dives into his story of being told over and over again during high school that he wasn’t good enough to play D1 ball while not having a single scholarship offer. Then he details his redemption story of flipping that script over the course of the next few years to spur many basketball minds, including Chauncey Billups, to tell him that he had a chance to make it in the NBA.

0:33 – Marc and Sean open up the show by discussing their initial reaction to the Derrick White trade
3:33 – Derrick White joins the conversation and tells us how he’s settling into Boston and what his trade experience was like
5:30 – White recalls the specifics of Gregg Popovich calling him as the trade deadline approached to ask him for his room number, and what ensued afterward – including notifying his pregnant wife
9:20 – White details how he’s been helped by the fact that multiple former Spurs staff members, including Ime Udoka and Will Hardy, are now on Boston’s staff
11:14 – White recalls the moment he first checked into a game as a member of the Celtics
13:40 – White again discusses his preexisting relationships with Ime Udoka and Will Hardy
17:30 – The conversation returns to discussing White’s relationship with Gregg Popovich and what it’s like to play for the legendary coach
21:15 – White goes into detail on his fascinating story of turning from an unrecruited high school player into an NBA player
26:45 – White reveals when he began to believe that he could make it to the NBA
28:15 – White comments on his relationship with his father, who grew up a Celtics fan
31:00 – Marc asks White about his passion for supporting the Special Olympics and those with special needsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.