Derrick White is even more important to Celtics championship repeat chances now

Everything fell perfectly into place last season. The Boston Celtics steamrolled through the regular season, winning 64 games, and followed it up with a 16-3 record into the postseason en route to Banner 18. But going back-to-back is even more difficult than winning one title.

Brad Stevens successfully brought back almost an identical group to last year, minus only Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford will all be back, and one of them will be more important than ever before.

And that person is White.

Derrick White is more important than ever for the Celtics

Last year, White got a serious All-Star push heading into the break. He didn’t end up making the team, but his impact was clearly respected by the entire basketball world.

This summer, he got the call-up to Team USA. He played a pivotal role throughout the 2024 Olympics after getting named as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement.

Now, he’ll be chasing a second ring with the Celtics, but his role will be even more crucial.

Porzingis is going to miss a large chunk of the season to start the year while recovering from offseason surgery. On top of that, Holiday is 34 years old, and Horford is 38. They will inevitably need some rest games.

White is going to maintain his starting job, and while Tatum and Brown will inevitably carry the load on offense, he could play a much larger role. Should one of those guys need a break, or if they have an off night, Boston will likely look to White to step up.

Add in the fact that losing Porzingis means the Celtics will have to play more small ball, and White’s importance gets amplified even more. His three-point shooting and defense will be essential, but now more than ever, the Celtics will have to utilize his underrated shot creation.

Putting the ball in White’s hand has always been a recipe for success for the Celtics. That won’t change this season.

Not only will the Celtics need White to take on a larger role with guys injured, having an off night, or resting, but they will also be better off letting him take on more responsibilities.