SUMMARY
- Derrick White nailed a game-winning three-pointers to send the Celtics into the NBA Finals.
- Richard White overwhelmed by emotions that ran through the final moments of the game.
The final moments of the Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers series were definitely excruciating, especially for Derrick White. He has emerged as one of the biggest role players on the team, and he’s partly the reason why the Celtics succeed in clutch moments. White hit a game-winning three-pointer on an assist from Jaylen Brown that helped the Celtics sweep the Pacers.
“The more they’re saying they can’t, this team just keeps going.”@ChrisForsberg_ caught up exclusively with Derrick White’s Dad after Game 4 pic.twitter.com/IHmKy7rcCk
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 28, 2024
In attendance was Richard White, Derrick’s father, who always shows up at games to support his son. “Everybody keeps saying that they can’t get there. There’s a reason why they’re not good enough, they can’t do [it]. So, the more they keep saying that they can’t, this team just keeps going,” he said. The Celtics’ potential has been overlooked throughout the season. But by making it to the finals, they’re shutting down a lot of critics.
Derrick White stuns his father with his game-winning 3-pointer
Obviously, with Game 4 being a crucial game in the series, Derrick White’s three-pointer was a make-or-break attempt. As a parent, Richard couldn’t control his emotions of seeing his son carry the entire weight of the series with one shot attempt. He said, “I mean, it’s nerve-wracking. He missed the first, and I thought he was going to make that one. And then he made that one [the game-winner] you know.”
Jaylen Brown with two huge plays. First the block, then the dime.
And what a shot by Derrick White. It’s actually a game-winning three: pic.twitter.com/WJR6MCAaWx
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) May 28, 2024
“You always hope for good things for your kid but I mean, that’s a lot of pressure. I mean, it wasn’t that much pressure because even if they lost, it’s just another game… But man, that was amazing,” he added. White averaged 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game during the Pacers series. In Games 3 and 4, White played a huge role on defense securing 7 blocks in total. And in Game 4 alone, he had 5 steals.
Derrick White gives props to Jaylen Brown for being the most important player in this series
But if there’s one individual the Celtics are praising besides Derrick White, it’s Jaylen Brown. The 27-year-old has had a phenomenal series. He had an incredible game-tying shot made in Game 1 which helped the Celtics get an early 1-0 lead. In Game 4, his final two plays included a block that stopped the Pacers from closing the distance. And his final pass led to White’s game-winner.
Great quote by Derrick White on Jaylen Brown’s evolution:
“He is unreal. I knew he was unreal when I got here, but the great thing about JB is he’s gotten better every single year that he’s been in this league, which is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
He was unreal… pic.twitter.com/uVhdVWbOWI— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 28, 2024
“He is unreal. I knew he was unreal when I got here, but the great thing about JB is he’s gotten better every single year that he’s been in this league, which is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He was unreal this whole series, just on both sides of the ball… he was unreal and I love being his teammate,” he said. Brown was awarded the Eastern Conference Finals MVP title, and he took pride in it after being snubbed from various All-NBA teams. Jayson Tatum finished second to Brown by a wide margin in the conference finals MVP race.