Joe Mazzulla Responds To Derrick White Being Called Top-5 NBA Player originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson turned heads on Sunday when he called Boston Celtics guard Derrick White a top-5 player in the NBA.
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Following the Celtics-Cavs game (which Boston won), Boston’s head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked to respond to Atkinson’s huge compliment of White.
Mazzulla ultimately labeled the prompt a “loaded question” that could be taken in a myriad of different directions, but Joe didn’t shy away from responding to the question, either.
Mazzulla lauded White’s two-way impact and talent as a connector for Boston, alluding to Derrick’s enduring value. Joe also made a reference to advanced analytics, suggesting that White’s impact jumps off the page in that regard.
White continues to fly under the radar as one of the NBA’s most underrated players, even as he’s seen his profile expand in the national spotlight since Boston’s 2024 title.
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White still hasn’t been elected to an All-Star team, which doesn’t align with his impact on winning.
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