On a recent episode of The Old Man and the Three podcast, Derrick White discussed what makes a good role player. This season, the Boston Celtics guard is averaging a career-high 16.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game.
As captured by the podcast’s official X page, White suggested that a good role player is willing to put their ego aside and stay prepared for opportunities.
“Number one, you got to get over yourself. It’s not about you. There’s times where I won’t touch the ball for ten possessions in a row. I just got to be ready to go when I do get my opportunity. So obviously, you’ve got to defend. You got to run in transition. You got to be in the right spot… Just stay ready, stay confident, and then be aggressive when it’s your turn.”
White also expressed that he is more concerned with team success than his individual stats.
“Every time I’m out there, I’m just trying to help us win. I’m not really trying to score 20. I don’t even care if I get ten assists.”
The 29-year-old is gaining traction in NBA All-Star Voting. As of January 4, White ranks eighth in Eastern Conference Guards with over 175,000 fan votes.
Check out the full All-Star voting results here.
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