Celtics near-star deemed a Boston folk hero on brink of Banner 18

Derrick White has been overlooked at times, being placed in the shadows of both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. His presence and leadership are unmatched; he hardly gets the amount of credit he truly deserves, especially from the media.

Let's change that.

SB Nation's Jack Simone made sure to spread the word, keying in on the importance of White's contributions -- but there's still so much more love that needs to be expressed.

“In the years following the trade, White has established himself as something of a folk hero in Boston,” Simone prefaced before saying, “From his game-winning shot in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals to his Sam Adams commercials, Celtics fans love White, and he loves them back.”

White, now easily recognized for his iconic bald head, has truly given every ounce of his body to bring back more hardware for the entire city of Boston.

He has done things his way, and fans need to cherish every single moment because who knows what the future holds. It's something very, very special.

An inside look at Derrick White's 2024 Celtics postseason run until now

White has averaged 17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists through 32.6 minutes of play. His success on the defensive end must not go unrecognized, as he shares the backcourt with arguably the game's best perimeter defenders in Jrue Holiday.

Furthermore, he has shot 46.2% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc as he has been an efficient option for Boston away from the basket.

The skills he holds are incredible and it shows not only on the box scores but on the court, too.

His crucial block off the fastbreak on P.J. Washington during Game 3 was electric and displayed the gritty mantra that White maintains on a game-to-game basis.

No. 9 may not be the loudest person but he's arguably the most impactful in this team's trajectory to soaking in more greatness.

Shaquille O'Neal certainly sees the vision.

Last but not least ... thank you, Derrick White. Keep on balling. Banner 18 is right there.