Derrick White is one of the clutchest shooters in the NBA, and it could give the Boston Celtics a massive boost throughout this season, in particular. Having a guy who is as automatic as White has been in clutch situations is a huge luxury, and considering how many clutch games Boston has played in, his skill set will be especially useful.
Sunday night against the New York Knicks was merely the latest in a long line of clutch shots White has hit this season. With 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Knicks were rolling. The 18-point lead Boston carried into the fourth was down to five. Jaylen Brown had the ball in his hands.
Josh Minott screened for him, rolled, Brown kicked to him in the short roll, he dished it to Jordan Walsh in the corner, who swung it to White on the wing. Three-point bucket. Celtics up by eight.
Derrick White is eternally clutch
It was one of the biggest moments in the game. The Knicks had been pressuring Brown for the last few minutes, forcing him to give up the ball. Boston needed other guys to hit shots. White did that. And it’s not the first time.
The Celtics have played in 13 clutch games this year (tied for the fifth-most in the league), which is defined as a game within five points with under five minutes to play.
Derrick White is shooting 7-of-11 on clutch threes this year.
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) December 4, 2025
Nobody has made more than him. pic.twitter.com/XJP5GzszUE
Considering how many top players they lost over the summer, it makes sense that they are playing more close games than they have in recent years. And with how hard they’re fighting on a game-to-game basis, it doesn’t seem like the close games are going to stop flowing in.
Not only do the Celtics shoot a league-high 52.5% from the floor in the clutch this year, but they also shoot 50.0% from three, which is also first in the NBA.
White is leading that charge. In the 12 clutch games he’s appeared in this season, White is shooting 7-of-11 (63.6%) from three-point range.
Of the 68 players around the league who have attempted at least five clutch threes this season, White’s 63.6% ranks fifth among them, and nobody above him on the list has taken more than six.
As the Celtics continue to grow and improve this season, clutch games are going to be crucial if they want to make a push for the postseason. And once they get there, having clutch shooters will be key to getting any playoff wins.
White emerging as one of the clutchest players in the league should pay dividends for Boston.