Derrick White: I was hurt when [the Spurs] traded me

Aug 3, 2025 4:46 PM

As Derrick White kicked off his new “White Noise” podcast, he opened up about one of the defining moments in his NBA journey: the midseason trade that sent him from the San Antonio Spurs to the Boston Celtics.

The story, relayed by Hayden Bird of The Boston Globe, offers a rare look at the emotional toll such transitions can take – even for seasoned professionals.

Now a beloved figure in Boston and a key contributor to the Celtics’ 2024 championship run, White recalled that the move wasn’t initially welcome.

“Getting traded is never easy,” he reflected on the podcast. “I think it’s probably easier in the offseason – you kind of get time to relax and figure [things] out. But getting traded in the season is one of the craziest things that I’ve had to deal with in my NBA career.”

White described the abrupt nature of the transition, underscoring the emotional whiplash of being all-in with one team and suddenly finding yourself on another.

“You’re on a team, you’re committed to them, you’re trying to do everything you can to help them win games, and then one day they’re like, ‘All right, you’re on the Celtics,’” he said. “I was hurt, definitely, when [the Spurs] traded me.”

The immediate aftermath of the news was spent in a hotel room, trying to process the whirlwind. “I was just playing dominoes and drinking,” White shared with a laugh.

“Me and Bow [Spurs trainer Brandon Bowman] were just sitting there, kind of stunned, trying to make sense of it all.”

What began as a quiet moment turned into an impromptu farewell gathering as players and coaches filtered in to say their goodbyes. The gathering was so heartfelt – and rowdy – that White nearly missed the flight Boston had arranged for him.

Despite the initial sting, White’s feelings began to shift the moment he stepped onto the parquet at TD Garden. The welcome from the Boston crowd was immediate and overwhelming.

“The first time I checked in, the crowd gave me a standing ovation,” he remembered. “That moment – man – it just hit me like, ‘This is where I’m supposed to be at.’”