Derrick White isn’t hiding from his worst shooting season. He owns it. The Celtics guard admitted he let his mind get in the way last year, a rare move for a player who usually keeps his head above water. This honesty is exactly why Boston will win it all again. While some players blame the defense or the refs, White pointed the finger at his own brain. That kind of self-awareness is the difference between a good team and a champion.
The Mental Hurdle Is Real
White’s numbers from 2025-26 were ugly by his own high standards. He shot just 32.7 percent from three-point range, his lowest mark in a Celtics uniform. The Celtics Wire reported that he took on a bigger role while Jayson Tatum was out with a torn Achilles, and the pressure clearly got to him. White didn’t make excuses. He told SI’s John Karalis that the slump started slow and then “kind of messes your mind.” He admitted that he started “tweaking some things that you probably shouldn’t need to tweak,” which caused the problem to snowball. Most players would try to blame the system. White knows the real issue was his confidence.
But he has a plan to fix it. He said he just needs to get back to “doing things that I’ve done my whole life.” That simple approach is often the hardest to execute when the lights are bright. The fact that he can say this out loud shows he has already moved past the panic. He isn’t waiting for a magic cure. He is going back to his roots.
Joe Mazzulla Is Behind Him
Head coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t letting White carry this burden alone. The coach knows that fixing a player’s mind is just as important as fixing their form. In an interview, Mazzulla asked himself, “OK, where could I have gotten better as a coach? Where could I have helped him get out of that faster?” He made it clear that the responsibility for helping players through slumps falls on the staff, not just the player. Mazzulla noted that the team has Kerry Guest, a performance psychologist, to help guys “get out of stuff like that faster.” This shows a team culture that values mental health as much as physical stats.
Mazzulla also gave assistants Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay real chances to lead during the preseason. Reporters were informed by him that he wished to provide them with the chance to develop their coaching abilities. This proves the whole organization is focused on growth, not just the stars. When the coaching staff admits they have work to do, the players feel safe to admit their own struggles. That trust is what builds a dynasty.
White sees the bigger picture for this season too. Even with big changes to the roster, he believes the team can compete with anyone. He told Marc D’Amico that “there’s so many different ways for us to win, and so many different guys that can step up.” He noted that while Tatum and Paul George will have their nights, “you never know throughout the whole season whose night it’s going to be.” That depth is scary for opponents. White’s confidence is back, and so is the team’s.
