For fans of the Boston Celtics, a reunion of sorts was put together in one of the several trades made the storied franchise on the 2022 NBA trade deadline this past Thursday in bringing back big man Daniel Theis from the Houston Rockets. For Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, however, the reunion came in a different deal — the one that landed Boston San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White.
Udoka had been an assistant coach early in White’s NBA career when both were part of the Spurs organization. Now, after stints as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets organizations for the Celtics coach as an assistant, the two are back together.
Speaking on local radio on the “Zolak and Bertrand” show, he shared his thoughts on why White was going to fit well with his new team. “He checks a ton of boxes,” explained Udoka.
“He’s a perfect fit on and off the court,” claimed the Celtics coach.
“(He’s) a guy who is going to come right in and be selfless and work hard. Offensively, defensively, he does a lot of things for us, and another guy with good length that can add versatility to our group. But, more appealing than that, he knows what I want. I know him well, and obviously, where he’s been brought up, we have a lot of similarities in our background, so he should come in and fit in seamlessly.”
“Jayson (Tatum), Jaylen (Brown), Marcus (Smart) were all with him as well at (Team) USA, so they have a common bond there as well,” finished Udoka.
It seems Udoka will get his first look at just how perfect of a fit White really is against the Nuggets on Friday night.
And if he is even close to the ball-moving, defensive nightmare he is billed as by those who know him well, it seems probable the Celtics coach’s assessment of the former Spurs guard may well prove correct.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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