Derrick White’s Opening Night was a prelude to something bigger

Last season, Derrick White had four games with at least 20 field goal attempts. With a team-high 20 FGA on Wednesday night, he reached that mark in game one against the Sixers.

This wasn’t White’s most prolific shooting night, but it’s a sign that he’s ready to accept more responsibility. There was a level of persistence that he showed as well — staying aggressive despite the misses. Boston no longer has the luxury of allowing him to take a backseat if the shot isn’t falling, and he looks completely aware of that.

Out of White’s seven makes, six of them were unassisted. With more attention from the defense, it’s encouraging that his impact was tied directly to self-creation. He was off the mark on a few easy looks, but those will start to fall eventually. If he can continue to get to his spots with this level of success against tougher defensive teams, his time as the #2 option will be eye-opening.

White and Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 25 apiece in their debut as Batman and Robin. Brown had a more methodical approach, while White was a gunslinger with a quick trigger. Even though he led the team in shot attempts, they would’ve been better off if he kept shooting.

After drilling this pull-up with 6:30 left, White took only two more shots as the Celtics’ lead slipped away. He had a pair of assists to a rolling Neemias Queta in that stretch, but faded when the game clock dipped under two minutes.

In moments like that he’ll have to get comfortable calling his own number, even when sharing the floor with capable scorers. This is part of the adjustment stage into a new role — striking the right balance between being assertive vs. deferential. His shot profile proved that he understands what’s being asked of him, and he should grow into it as the year goes on.

That’s one of the hidden blessings for this season. White has the freedom to improve in a more striking way, compared to the subtle refinement you’d expect from a player in their ninth year. Keep in mind, the most field goal attempts he’s ever had in a year is 12.6 per game. He might not hit 20 every night, but he’s going to cross that mark more than ever.

Boston struggled to contain the Sixers guards — Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — and while Maxey got the better of White a few times, he held Edgecombe to 2/7 from the field when matched up. White also picked up a steal and one of his signature rejections at the rim.

The fact that White can scale up offensively, while remaining impactful on defense is a strong indication he’s going to settle into this role with ease. His All-Star case might actually make itself if he approximates the standard All-Defensive output, while averaging over 20 points a night.

White has to get comfortable with being outside his comfort zone. He’s always been a star in his role, but now that role comes with more visibility on the scouting report — and more influence on Boston’s success. The Celtics will rise or fall depending on how much he steps up, and based on Opening Night, it’s a challenge he looks ready for.

While his unbeaten Opening Night record came to an end, the performance itself felt like a prelude to something bigger.

He’ll be tested again quickly, with a matchup against a familiar foe in Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. I’m not sure if Amazon Prime counts as a national TV, but there will naturally be a lot of eyes on this one—an early opportunity to prove he belongs in conversations about the best guards in the East.