Derrick White Called the Shots for Boston’s Summer League Team and His Coach Loved Every Minute

Derrick White spent Saturday night doing something a little different. Instead of running the floor for the Celtics, he was running the huddle. White took over as an assistant coach for Boston’s NBA Summer League team during their 87-75 win over the Hornets in Las Vegas. He was calling plays, talking to players, basically doing everything he normally does on game nights except actually playing.

Celtics assistant and Summer League head coach Amile Jefferson was all in on the idea. Jefferson gave White the green light to run things from the sidelines, and he couldn’t stop smiling about it afterward.

“He’s such a good guy, man,” Jefferson said. “Me and him have gotten really close. Love that dude. Obviously, he’s incredible off the court, and more incredible on the court. And me and him have a great relationship. We talked about it. He was like, ‘I’m going to come coach a game.’ I was like, ‘Come on, let’s do it.'”

White isn’t exactly a graybeard at 32 years old. He’s still a key piece for Boston, especially after signing a contract extension in 2024. But the guy is clearly thinking ahead. Coaching isn’t something you just stumble into during Summer League. You do it because you’re curious, because you want to see if you’ve got the feel for it. White apparently wanted to find out.

A Familiar Face on a Young Roster

The Summer League squad included a few names Celtics fans already know. Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams, Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell all suited up. That probably made the transition easier for White. It’s one thing to coach strangers. It’s another thing to coach guys you’ve already shared a practice court with.

White’s NBA resume speaks for itself. Through 571 games, he’s averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story though. He’s been the kind of player every coach wants on the floor — smart, unselfish, does the little things. That skill set tends to translate to the sideline pretty well.

The bigger picture here is what comes next for Boston. The Celtics got bounced early from the 2026 playoffs, which nobody saw coming after they won it all the year before. White is going to be a huge part of fixing that. But if his coaching debut is any sign, he might also be building something for way down the road.

Jefferson didn’t say whether White will be back on the bench for another Summer League game. But based on how happy he sounded, don’t bet against it.