Scalabrine: Derrick White may very well be even higher after Olympic expertise initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
Derrick White took his recreation to a different stage for the Boston Celtics final season, and it is one of many the explanation why they gained their first NBA championship since 2008.
Brian Scalabrine thinks White might ascend even increased throughout the upcoming 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Why is that? Scalabrine believes White’s confidence can be sky excessive after a constructive expertise on the 2024 Paris Olympics with Workforce USA that included a gold medal triumph. Scalabrine additionally particulars the position LeBron James may need had in that, too.
“After I was in school, I acquired an opportunity to play at Michael Jordan’s basketball camp and I performed with Michael Jordan for the entire week,” Scalabrine stated Tuesday on NBC Sports activities Boston’s Celtics Put up Up present, as seen within the video above.
“I used to be on his workforce and Michael stamped me. He was like, ‘Yo, you are gonna be on my workforce all week,’ as a result of I moved the ball, no matter, no matter. I’m going to the NBA, Jason Kidd, he stamped me. These guys, once they stamp you, your confidence — it is not like, ‘Oh it doubled.’ It is like occasions 100, proper? After I acquired to Boston, (Kevin) Garnett (stamped me). That stuff issues.
“So for Derrick White, from all of the rumors we hear is LeBron James was like, ‘Go get Derrick White.’ That is who he needed to get for (Workforce USA). And since LeBron ran The Avengers, he was Tony Stark, LeBron acquired the man he needed.
“I imply, simply put it collectively. All you heard all offseason earlier than the draft was Bronny James saying ‘I am about to be the subsequent Derrick White’, proper? So clearly, when it comes down and Derrick White goes (to hitch Workforce USA), that is what everybody thinks. So, which means loads…. I simply really feel like for (White’s) confidence going into this 12 months, that dude’s bona fide.”
It is a actually fascinating level by Scalabrine. When a participant of James’ caliber basically offers you the stamp of approval, that must be good on your confidence. That is one method to let you know’ve arrived as an upper-echelon participant.
White averaged 15.4 factors, 5.2 assists and a career-high 4.2 rebounds per recreation for the C’s final season. He additionally shot a career-high 39.1 % from 3-point vary. His protection was stellar, too. He completed No. 2 amongst guards with 1.2 blocks per recreation and was named to the All-Defensive second workforce for the second straight 12 months.
White was even higher within the playoffs, averaging 16.7 factors per recreation and capturing 40.1 % from past the arc. His 3-pointer on the finish of Recreation 4 within the Japanese Convention Finals punched Boston’s ticket to the NBA Finals.
White has improved annually he is performed with the Celtics. If he can go to a fair increased stage, that might be large for the workforce’s probabilities of efficiently defending its title. And it will be particularly vital early within the season whereas Kristaps Porzingis works his method again from damage.
