Kofi Inkoom
On Saturday night in Brooklyn, the Boston Celtics will be missing one of their starting five players for the first time this season. Derrick White won’t be playing due to personal reasons, as reported by the team.
A reliable source within the NBA confirmed that White and his spouse are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their second child, which could happen any day now.
White has had an exceptional beginning to the season as the starting point guard in Boston, boasting a shooting percentage of over 50% both from the field and beyond the arc.
This will be the first game he’s missed since the 2022 NBA Playoffs when he skipped an Eastern Conference Finals game to be present for the birth of his son, Hendrix.
In White’s absence, the Celtics are likely to rely on Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, who may take on more significant roles in the game.
There’s even the possibility that one of them could start, potentially causing Jrue Holiday to shift to the point guard position.
Bench players like Lamar Stevens and Svi Mykhailiuk might also see an opportunity for increased minutes with White unavailable for the night.
In addition to White, Boston will also be missing Neemias Queta, their two-way center, due to a foot injury.
Despite these setbacks, the team will be striving to secure their fifth consecutive victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, with the game set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET.