Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has challenged teammate Derrick White to receive his first technical foul as a mark of respect within the team. With Tatum sidelined for the upcoming season due to a torn Achilles, White is stepping into a larger role, making the Jayson Tatum technical foul challenge a notable aspect of the Celtics’ internal dynamics.
Jayson Tatum’s Challenge to Derrick White
Derrick White, now one of Boston’s primary players alongside Jaylen Brown, has shared a unique request from Tatum during an appearance on White’s White Noise Podcast. Although White has been a committed defender and competitor, he has yet to receive a technical foul, something Tatum jokingly insists is necessary for earning his respect.
“JT told me he doesn’t respect me until I get a technical,”
—Derrick White, Boston Celtics guard
White admitted that early in his career, the idea of receiving a technical foul seemed unlikely, but over time he has grown more open to the notion without actively seeking one out.
“Early in my career, I was like, I’ll never get one. Last couple of years, I feel like I’ve gotten closer. I’m not against it, but I’m not gonna go out of my way to get one.”
—Derrick White, Boston Celtics guard
Context Behind the Technical Foul Challenge
Tatum has long been familiar with technical fouls himself and believes they can contribute to a player’s toughness and street credibility. He explained the reasoning behind encouraging White to get a technical foul in a candid interview last season, where he referenced a scene from the movie The Longest Yard featuring Chris Rock to illustrate his point.
“I’m no stranger to getting techs,”
—Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics forward
“D-White has never got a tech since he’s been in the league. I don’t know if anybody’s ever seen the reference in ‘The Longest Yard’ and when they was doing the recruiting and Chris Rock was like, ‘Man, I got half a star.’ So I told D-White like, you gotta get one tech and get your street cred up. So I got excited when I thought he got a tech. I kind of campaigned for him to get one, one day. So we’ll see.”
Tatum went on to describe how long this conversation has been ongoing and how personally invested he is in the idea.
“It’s been a longtime discussion. We’ve been talking about this for a long time. I just heard technical foul D-White, so I got excited. I was going to go give him a huge hug or something.”
Derrick White’s Role During Tatum’s Absence
With Tatum out due to injury, the Celtics will rely heavily on White and Brown to lead both offensively and defensively. Given the increased responsibilities, there is speculation that White might experience heightened frustration, which could lead to the technical foul Tatum has encouraged.
Despite White’s physical style of defense and high effort on the court, the fact that he has avoided a technical foul is noteworthy. The NBA’s current climate often involves players receiving technicals for complaints or confrontations, making White’s pristine record unusual.
Broader Team Implications and Future Outlook
Tatum’s absence is expected to challenge the Celtics, who have built much of their recent success around his performance. White’s adjustment to being a key figure will test his ability to maintain composure under pressure, possibly leading to moments Tatum has predicted. The dynamics between teammates, with playful but pointed challenges like this one, highlight the intense competitiveness within the Boston Celtics locker room.
As White steps up, fans and analysts will be watching to see if he finally earns that technical foul and what it could signify about his evolution as a player within the team.