Derrick White, a vital contributor to the Boston Celtics’ 2024 championship run, has long maintained a spotless record by never receiving a technical foul during his NBA career. Despite his all-around impact on the court, including scoring, three-point shooting, and strong defense, White’s clean disciplinary record has become a subject of teasing from friends and teammates, especially star player Jayson Tatum. White recently discussed this ongoing challenge and the friendly pressure he faces to finally earn a technical foul, highlighting a unique side of his reputation within the league.
White’s Role and Reputation on the Celtics
Known for his versatility, Derrick White contributes across multiple categories such as assists, rebounds, and defense, proving crucial despite not being a marquee star. Standing 6’4”, White is recognized for his rebounding ability, which is notable for a guard his size, alongside earning multiple selections to All-Defensive teams. Beyond his statistical impact, White is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s nicest players, a reputation that coincides with his clean disciplinary history.
White has never been assessed a technical foul, which reflects both his playing style and demeanor on the court. This facet of his career has become a point of pride but also a source of playful ribbing by those around him who see the rarity of his pristine record as almost enviable yet unusual in the competitive basketball environment.
Mentorship and Team Dynamics Fueling the Technical Foul Talk
In his White Noise podcast, Derrick White expressed gratitude toward Celtics assistant coach Matt Reynolds, crediting him for helping improve his game through film study and continuous encouragement. White praised Reynolds’ positive influence, saying,
“He’s done so much for my career, watching film, little things on how I can improve, how I can make the team better. Just picking me up, always positive. He’s just the best guy.”
—Derrick White
Reynolds also served as head coach for the Celtics’ Summer League team, leading them to a 4-1 record, which White admired. However, White lamented the absence of a technical foul for Reynolds in that role, joking,
“I was happy to see him get the opportunity to be the head coach, and I was disappointed he didn’t get a technical.”
—Derrick White
His cohost and close friend Alex Welsh quickly challenged this stance, pointing out White’s own untouched technical record:
“Coming from someone who does not have one technical foul in their NBA career.”
—Alex Welsh
Pressure from Teammates and the Quest for the First Technical Foul
Unlike players such as Anthony Edwards or Draymond Green, who regularly receive technical fouls, White has avoided such penalties throughout his career. He acknowledged moving from a mindset of “I’ll never get one” early on to feeling he has come closer in recent years. When Welsh asked if this would be the year White finally receives one, he replied cautiously, “Yeah maybe.”
The teasing intensifies due to pressure from teammates, including Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum, who has openly expressed skepticism over White’s clean record. White reported,
“There’s guys on the team that have been giving me hell about not having a tech, JT told me he doesn’t respect me until I get a technical.”
—Derrick White
Given Tatum’s status as a team leader, his taunts carry weight and suggest that White’s first technical foul may soon be inevitable.
The Near Miss and Tatum’s Expectation
In April, White nearly broke his streak during a game against the Phoenix Suns when officials initially called him for a technical foul late in the match. White’s surprised reaction was telling, but the call was reversed in favor of one of the Suns’ coaches. White’s reaction to teammate Tatum on the bench was telling as he mouthed, “I got one,” only for Tatum to respond with visible frustration.
After the game, Tatum described his excitement and subsequent disappointment, explaining the conversation surrounding White’s technical foul challenge:
“This has been a longtime discussion, we’ve been talking about this for a long time, so I just heard technical foul D-White, I just got excited, I was gonna go give him a hug or something.”
—Jayson Tatum
Looking Ahead: White’s Role and the Technical Foul Challenge in the Next Season
As Jayson Tatum rehabs his surgically repaired Achilles and spends much of the next season on the bench, he will likely continue to push White toward getting that elusive technical foul. Tatum has even joked about being willing to pay fines attached to technical fouls just to see White finally earn one. The Celtics will rely heavily on Derrick White next season, not only for his on-court abilities but also for his ability to embrace a broader leadership role within a team facing challenges. Whether White succumbs to his teammates’ pressure and earns his first technical foul remains to be seen, but the ongoing banter underscores the camaraderie and intensity within the Celtics’ locker room.