Even for someone who had to grind their way to the NBA on effort as much as talent like newest Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, the sequence of events that brought him to Boston to play in a game for the Celtics less than 48 hours after he finished his final game playing for the San Antonio Spurs was unexpected.
To begin with, players rarely play for a new team immediately after being dealt, and the Spurs are not a team known for dealing players mid-season in the first place. Speaking to the media after his debut game for the Celtics on Friday, however, the Colorado native relayed his surprise at being traded to Boston, as well as his early thoughts on his new team.
“I was pretty shocked,” shared White. “I didn’t see it coming, but as soon as I got here, I got excited and was happy to come here and help the team.”
Asked about his connection to the Celtics staff via several current Boston assistants and other staff having previously worked in some capacity with the Spurs, and whether it has helped ease the transition, White replied “It helped a lot.”
“I feel like I know people in the training staff and everywhere, so it made the transition a lot easier, and I felt pretty comfortable out there.”
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” he later added. “I didn’t even know I was going to play until like an hour before, so that’s really when I got cleared so just going out there — my number is called and do what I need to do.”
Specifically asked about how he felt about playing with his new teammates, and the former San Antonio guard lit up.
“They’ve got a great group. Obviously (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown), and I just come in and help those guys out, and help the rest of the team, and do what I need to do just to help them out. I’m excited for the rest of the season and going on to the playoffs.”
It is literally the smallest of sample sizes, but the early returns have been outstanding for White so far.
“I kind of got goosebumps checking in,” related White of the ovation given him by the crowd at TD Garden Friday.
And it wasn’t long after that that the newest Celtic was returning the favor to his new fans.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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