The Boston Celtics won the NBA championship last season, giving them a league-best 18 banners. What’s scary is that they are more than prepared for another title run.
Why? Because the Celtics retained their entire core this summer and even handed out some massive contract extensions. Jayson Tatum’s record-breaking deal grabbed most of the headlines, but Boston did extend another key member of its starting lineup: Derrick White.
The Celtics gave White a four-year, $118 million pact, ensuring he will remain in green for the foreseeable future. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale loves the move, calling it Boston’s best decision of the offseason.
“Another team could have given him four years and close to $200 million next summer,” Favale wrote. “Even at a time when organizations are skewing spendthrifty on non-stars, a then-31-year-old White likely winds up with that kind of market. Getting him on this deal is a massive W for the Celtics.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Boston Celtics Updates
White is one of the more underrated two-way players in the NBA and is coming off of a terrific 2023-24 campaign in which he averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and one steal over 32.6 minutes per game. Talk about stuffing the stat sheet. He also posted 46.1/39.6/90.1 shooting splits.
What’s more, White was even better in the playoffs, registering 16.7 points per game while making 40.4 percent of his three-point attempts. He also led all players in the postseason with 2.9 win shares.
The Boston Celtics could become the first team to repeat in over a decade
The last team to win back-to-back championships was the Miami Heat in 2013, and the Celtics have a great chance of achieving the feat in 2025.
Boston did not lose any key pieces this summer, and if anything, the C’s will have even more continuity heading into next season. Yes, Kristaps Porzingis will be recovering from surgery, but he is expected to return during the first half of the campaign.
So long as the Celtics are healthy for the playoffs, they should once again be considered favorites to win the championship.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Boston Celtics Updates
The Eastern Conference has improved, but let’s keep in mind that Boston won the East by 14 games this past year.
Barring injuries or any unforeseen circumstances, it would be surprising if the Boston Celtics didn’t represent the conference in the finals again next June.
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