Derrick White has become a cornerstone player for the Boston Celtics, earning recognition as one of the NBA’s premier two-way guards. This comprehensive article covers everything you need to know about his contract, personal background, and career statistics.
Derrick White Contract
White signed a four-year contract extension with the Boston Celtics. The contract is worth $118,048,000 in base salary, with a maximum value of $125,888,000 including incentives. White has a player option in the 2028-29 season and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2029. The contract also includes a 15% trade bonus.
Year-by-Year Salary Breakdown
In the 2025-26 season, White will earn $28,100,000 in base salary. In 2026-27, his base salary will be $28,458,000 with a cap hit of $30,348,000. In 2027-28, he will earn $32,596,000. In 2028-29, he has a player option worth $34,844,000.
The Celtics will pay approximately $145 million to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and White combined in the 2026-27 season. The San Antonio Spurs also retain the right to swap first-round picks with Boston in 2028 as a result of the 2022 White trade.
Derrick White Ethnicity
Derrick White is American by nationality. He was born in Parker, Colorado. He comes from a mixed ethnic household his mother Colleen is white Caucasian, while his father Richard is of African-American heritage. He represents the United States in international competition.
Derrick White Height
Derrick White is listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters) tall. He weighs 190 pounds (86 kilograms).
White experienced a significant growth spurt during and after high school. At the time of his high school graduation, he was barely 6 feet 0 inches tall after growing two inches during his senior year. Doctors had projected White to potentially reach 6 feet 5 inches, and he nearly reached that height by the time he enrolled at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Derrick White Parents
Derrick White was born to parents Colleen White and Richard White. He has an older sister named Brianna.
Richard White – His Father
Richard White grew up in Boston and is a lifelong Celtics fan. He works in the IT department of a digital education company. When White was traded to Boston in February 2022, Richard was thrilled because he knew the Celtics were a much better team on a different trajectory than San Antonio. His father’s late growth spurt in college was also noted by coaches who recruited White, and doctors had projected Derrick to reach his eventual height based on his father’s growth pattern.
Colleen White – His Mother
Colleen White works as a legal assistant at a company specializing in worker’s compensation insurance. She has shared extensively about her son’s journey from being overlooked to NBA stardom. White was cut from the middle school basketball team in 8th grade and stood only 5 feet 6 inches at the start of high school. Despite his dominant play at Legend High School, there was no college interest.
On NBA draft night in 2017, the family gathered at a friend’s house, calling it a “graduation party” to reduce pressure. White was drafted 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
Derrick White Age
Derrick White was born on July 2, 1994. As of 2026, White is 32 years old.
Derrick White Position
Derrick White primarily plays the Guard position. He wears jersey number 9 for the Boston Celtics. White plays primarily as a combo guard, effectively handling both point guard and shooting guard duties.
Career Journey
White was lightly recruited out of high school, receiving no scholarship offers from any four-year institutions. The only head coach at a four-year school who showed sustained interest was Jeff Culver, then the head coach at the Denver campus of Johnson & Wales University, a non-scholarship NAIA member better known for its culinary program.
With his newfound size and athleticism, White became a star at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, starting every game of his three-year career and leaving as the school’s career leader in points (1,912) and assists (343).
Derrick White’s journey from being overlooked in high school to NBA stardom is remarkable. With a contract worth over $118 million, he has established himself as one of the league’s most valuable two-way guards. His parents Richard and Colleen White played a crucial role in supporting his development, from Richard’s relentless recruiting efforts to Colleen’s practical guidance through the challenges of professional basketball.
