In a league where nine-figure max deals are the norm and players chase every dollar, Derrick White just turned down a casual $5 million windfall—proving his heart is locked in with the Boston Celtics. The veteran guard, fresh off helping hoist Banner 18, revealed on the latest episode of his “White Noise” podcast that new teammate Nikola Vucevic playfully offered him a hefty sum to surrender his beloved No. 9 jersey. White’s response? A polite but firm no, emphasizing his deep-rooted loyalty to the fans and the franchise that drafted him into stardom.
“Nine is my favorite number,” White explained. “When I see my people wear No. 9 in like the Garden and it’s like a Nike jersey, then I’m like, ‘Ah, I know that’s mine.’ So there’s something special about that. There’s something kind of special about looking up and seeing all that. My fans know me as No. 9. If there was a special reason he [Vucevic] wanted to be No. 9, maybe I would consider it. But I kind of want to stay nine.”
The anecdote, shared via an X post from @PolymarketHoops, underscores White’s unwavering commitment: “Derrick White declined $5 million from Nikola Vucevic to give up his jersey number 9: ‘Nine is my favorite number… when I see people wearing it in The Garden and it’s a Nike jersey, I’m like, ‘Oh I know that’s mine.’ (via @whitenoisepod_)”
Embed X: https://twitter.com/PolymarketHoops/status/2023618128601641316
This isn’t just about a number—it’s a statement. Last offseason, the Celtics shook up their roster for financial flexibility, shipping out stars like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday while letting Al Horford walk. Yet White remained untouchable, a decision that’s paying dividends as he bets on himself and the green machine. Insiders confirm Boston rebuffed multiple trade offers for him, viewing the guard as an irreplaceable piece of their championship puzzle alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“Those two guys [Brown and White] are really, really great NBA players, and there hasn’t been anything close to serious about trading them,” Celtics executive Mike Zarren told The Boston Herald last June. “I’m not sure where all this reporting came from, but those guys are key parts of our team, and we’re lucky to have them here.”
White’s on-court impact only amplifies why he’s worth every penny he’s not chasing elsewhere. A Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner, he ranks seventh league-wide in defensive win shares and fifth in individual defensive rating (minimum 30 minutes per game), holding opponents to just 108.6 points per 100 possessions when he’s patrolling the floor. Without him? The Celtics surrender 116.9 points— an 8.3-point spike. His efforts have propelled Boston to a top-10 defensive ranking, filling the voids left by Holiday and Porzingis.
Offensively, White’s posting career highs with 17.2 points and 5.6 assists per game, even if his shooting efficiency has dipped to a career-low 39% from the field—a factor he believes cost him a first All-Star nod. “Obviously, this year has been kind of crazy and not shooting the way that I wanted to,” White admitted on his podcast, per Sports Illustrated. “I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping a positive mindset and doing other things to help the team win. And if I shot it the way I know I’m capable of, I probably would be [an All-Star].”
By passing on Vucevic’s $5M and doubling down on his role in Boston, White isn’t just securing a jersey number—he’s signaling to the NBA that Banner 18 was no fluke. It’s personal for this Celtic lifer, and in an era of fleeting loyalties, his stand is a rare bargain for a franchise chasing more hardware. The Celtics got the ultimate discount: a star who’s all in, no strings attached.