Boston Celtics guard Derrick White recently delivered a public farewell to now former teammate Kristaps Porzingis. He did so on his new podcast, "White Noise."
As he began bidding adieu, White quickly brought up one of the more light-hearted moments from the Celtics' season.
"KP, he's the best. I'll always remember him kissing my head after that layup, and I was like, 'What are you doing, KP?' But that's just the type of guy that he is," said White.
The two-time All-Defensive team selection co-hosts the show with close confidant Alex Welsh, a former teammate of his at Colorado State. As they discussed Porzingis's time in Boston, White also praised the Latvian native for his selfless nature.
"He just wants the best for everybody, and he's so giving and so caring; especially on the court," said White. "Just having so much fun. [He] just kind of does his own thing. And his swag, the things he does, you're just like, 'Yeah, only KP.'
Derrick White fondly recalls his time with Kristaps Porzingis
The Celtics efficiently handled their two most sizable tasks this offseason. They traded Jrue Holiday and Porzingis before the NBA Draft arrived.
Boston sent the latter to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that brought back Massachusetts native Georges Niang.
The franchise and the fan base will miss the seven-foot-two center. He quickly built a bond with the region. And while he battled through injuries and illness in his two playoff trips with the Celtics, he still made his mark.
Porzingis was a rim protector who empowered his teammates at the point of attack to operate with aggression. At the other end of the floor, he was a safety valve for the offense. Defenses would typically concede deep threes to him due to his height and extended range.
He was also as effective a post-up threat as there was in the league in recent years. The former All-Star routinely punished switches. It was an ideal option that made Boston's offense more dynamic and helped combat the three-point struggles when shots weren't falling.
In Porzingis's first season with the Celtics, he helped them build the best record in the Association. That netted them home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
And after not playing since the first round, he returned for Game 1 of the NBA Finals and delivered 20 points, six rebounds, and three blocks, starring in a series-opening win.
Porzingis earned his championship ring.
"I loved having him on the team," expressed White. "Didn't know much about him before we got him, and I mean, you spent time with KP, he's as cool as it gets. And he's a unicorn for a reason. Nobody can do the things that he do. And I mean obviously, Game 1 of the Finals, to come back and do -- like that was unbelievable. So many different memories, so many times, on the court, off the court with KP that we'll definitely miss."