Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla must lower Derrick White’s usage to maximize his roster. White led the team in assists and had a usage over 20 percent for just the second time in his NBA career as his efficiency plummeted. He shot just 39.4 percent from the field and 32.7 percent on his 3-point attempts. His second-lowest field goal percentage and the worst win shares per 48 minutes of his career came the only other time his usage was over 20 percent in 2021.
Fans won’t be surprised to find out that White is a better shooter off the catch and when he’s wide open. He shot 33.4 percent off the catch from 3-point range and just 32.1 percent off the dribble, but he took only 27 more catch-and-shoot triples last season. White made 36.9 percent of his wide-open threes, but hit just 29.5 percent with the defender from zero to six feet away.
Boston needs his percentages to improve, and the simple fix is getting him higher-quality shots. That means less creation for White and more time off the ball. The Celtics can’t rely on him to take over. They need the elite defensive guard to embrace a lesser offensive role even with Jaylen Brown gone.
Joe Mazzulla must put Derrick White in lesser offensive role to maximize Celtics
Some are expecting more from White after the Celtics traded Brown for Paul George, but that shouldn’t be the case. Fans saw White’s shooting efficiency and advanced metrics nosedive when his usage spikes over 20 percent. Mazzulla has to keep him in the 18-20 percent range to maximize his efficiency.
Fans saw White shoot over 40 percent on 3-pointers off the catch in 2025 and 39.9 percent on wide-open looks. They were a much larger percentage of his shot chart, which boosted his efficiency. Boston must create open looks for White and let him knock them down. They don’t need him working off the dribble and being a focal point of the offense.
Celtics need more Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard
Tatum should be fully healthy and ready to take on the alpha role. George is a nine-time All-Star, but he can’t be asked to return to superstar form. PG is a better fit for Mazzulla ball than Brown, but the 36-year-old has a lengthy injury history. George should be playing a 3-and-D role like White.
Pritchard will have to step up. The Celtics recognized they needed more ball-handling and playmaking with the addition of Mike Conley. The veteran is nearing the end of his career, but he can still space the floor and create some easy buckets. Mazzulla must empower Tatum and Pritchard to create with White and PG knocking down open looks.
White shouldn’t be leading the Celtics in assists per game this season. They need him in a lesser role to maximize him and the team.
It is on coach Mazzulla to put him there. Boston has plenty of shot creation between Tatum, PG, Pritchard, White, and Conley. The head coach must strike the best balance, which means less White and more of the others.
The Boston Celtics need to get Derrick White’s usage under 20 percent to maximize their roster. Fans have seen his efficiency plummet both times he topped that mark. White is an elite defender who needs a tertiary offensive role to maximize his production. There is nothing wrong with that. Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics should embrace that reality for the good of the team.
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