Scalabrine: Derrick White might be even higher after Olympic expertise
Scalabrine: Derrick White might be even higher after Olympic expertise initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
Derrick White took his recreation to a different stage for the Boston Celtics final season, and it is one of many the explanation why they gained their first NBA championship since 2008.
Brian Scalabrine thinks White may ascend even greater through the upcoming 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Why is that? Scalabrine believes White’s confidence will probably be sky excessive after a constructive expertise on the 2024 Paris Olympics with Staff USA that included a gold medal triumph. Scalabrine additionally particulars the position LeBron James might need had in that, too.
“After I was in faculty, I acquired an opportunity to play at Michael Jordan’s basketball camp and I performed with Michael Jordan for the entire week,” Scalabrine stated Tuesday on NBC Sports activities Boston’s Celtics Put up Up present, as seen within the video above.
“I used to be on his group and Michael stamped me. He was like, ‘Yo, you are gonna be on my group all week,’ as a result of I moved the ball, no matter, no matter. I’m going to the NBA, Jason Kidd, he stamped me. These guys, after they stamp you, your confidence — it isn’t like, ‘Oh it doubled.’ It is like occasions 100, proper? After I acquired to Boston, (Kevin) Garnett (stamped me). That stuff issues.
“So for Derrick White, from all of the rumors we hear is LeBron James was like, ‘Go get Derrick White.’ That is who he needed to get for (Staff USA). And since LeBron ran The Avengers, he was Tony Stark, LeBron acquired the man he needed.
“I imply, simply put it collectively. All you heard all offseason earlier than the draft was Bronny James saying ‘I am about to be the following Derrick White’, proper? So clearly, when it comes down and Derrick White goes (to affix Staff USA), that is what everybody thinks. So, which means so much…. I simply really feel like for (White’s) confidence going into this yr, that dude’s bona fide.”
It is a actually fascinating level by Scalabrine. When a participant of James’ caliber primarily provides you the stamp of approval, that needs to be good to your confidence. That is one approach to let you know’ve arrived as an upper-echelon participant.
White averaged 15.4 factors, 5.2 assists and a career-high 4.2 rebounds per recreation for the C’s final season. He additionally shot a career-high 39.1 p.c from 3-point vary. His protection was stellar, too. He completed No. 2 amongst guards with 1.2 blocks per recreation and was named to the All-Defensive second group for the second straight yr.
White was even higher within the playoffs, averaging 16.7 factors per recreation and capturing 40.1 p.c from past the arc. His 3-pointer on the finish of Recreation 4 within the Jap Convention Finals punched Boston’s ticket to the NBA Finals.
White has improved annually he is performed with the Celtics. If he can go to an excellent greater stage, that will be large for the group’s probabilities of efficiently defending its title. And it will be particularly necessary early within the season whereas Kristaps Porzingis works his approach again from damage.
