During a recent edition of the Game Theory podcast with Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon, they began their rankigns of the top 25 defenders in the NBA, and Boston Celtics guard Derrick White was snubbed. The worst part of it all? When Vecenie was explaining why he left White off the list, he couldn’t even come up with a good reason why. He just simply missed the cut.
“I felt super bad leaving him off,” Vecenie said. “It’s just, man [long pause.] Yeah, I don’t even know if I have a case for leaving him off, just to be real with you. He’s just really good, though.”
There’s no reason White should have been left off the list.
Why was Derrick White snubbed?
For the last three seasons, White has not only been one of the best defenders in the NBA, but one of the most unique. At just 6-foot-5, he’s emerged as one of the best shot-blockers in the league.
His screen navigation, ability to predict ball-handlers’ movement, and impressive ball pressure are all somehow outmatched by his knack for blocking shots around the rim. It’s a skill that has allowed Boston to deploy him in a variety of different roles off the bench.
Yet when it came time to rank players, Vecenie and Simon left him off the list, and a quick glance of some of the guys who barely made their top 25 reveals a few different reasons why.
Coming in at 25 was Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler. This is a classic case of big-man bias. There’s no doubt that Kessler is a great defender, particularly around the rim. But for the past few years, all of his defensive metrics have taken a hit. His block percentage has decreased, and his on/off numbers have gotten worse.
No. 24 on their list was Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, who blossomed in the postseason. But that’s also part of the reason why he’s probably on the list above White: He got to play on a larger stage this year.
Nembhard’s defense against the likes of Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is fresh in everyone’s minds. White and the Celtics got bounced in the second round.
The same can be said for Isaiah Hartenstein, who also made the list. Players like Kris Dunn and Jalen Suggs also made it, but it just feels like White could have taken one of their spots.
As Vecenie noted, there was no good reason for leaving White off the list. Everyone who made it is an incredible defender, but White’s unique style, consistency over the past few years, and ability to guard the perimeter and the paint should have given him the edge.