Boston Celtics guard Derrick White just gave the internet one of the most delightfully awkward conspiracy takes in recent memory.
During a recent episode of his “White Noise” podcast, White was asked about conspiracy theories and delivered a wonderfully wishy-washy stance on one of the most debated topics in American history: the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.
“I wouldn’t call myself a conspiracy theorist,” White began, “but I do think they are very interesting… I don’t think we did. I’m a non-moon landing guy. We probably did, but I don’t think we did. I don’t really know, but I don’t think we did.”
Celtics guard Derrick White
The 30-year-old defensive specialist somehow managed to take both sides of one of the most thoroughly documented events in human history in the span of a single sentence. Neil Armstrong’s “one small step for man” moment, Buzz Aldrin’s lunar walk, the six successful Apollo moon landings that followed — all of it left White somewhere between skeptical and agnostic.
For context, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew — led by Armstrong and Aldrin — blasted off with the goal President John F. Kennedy set in 1961: land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. The mission succeeded spectacularly, and five more Apollo missions put astronauts on the lunar surface before the program ended. The only major exception was the dramatic but safe return of Apollo 13 in 1970.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, video footage, rock samples, and independent verification from multiple countries, moon landing denial has persisted for decades. In recent years, conspiracy theories of all kinds have seen a resurgence, particularly in the United States.
White’s comments immediately went viral, with fans and pundits reacting with a mix of amusement, disbelief, and memes. Some Celtics supporters joked that White’s on-court instincts are elite, but his conspiracy radar might need some calibration.
White Remains Crucial to Boston’s Title Aspirations
While his lunar beliefs may be up for debate, White’s importance to the Celtics’ championship hopes is not.
Boston is pushing for back-to-back titles after falling to the New York Knicks in the second round of last year’s playoffs. With Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Al Horford no longer on the roster, the supporting cast around Jayson Tatum has thinned. White is being asked to take on a slightly larger offensive role at times, especially in crunch time.
Last season he shot a solid 44.2% from the field and 38.4% from three. This year those numbers have dipped to 39.6% and 32.5%, respectively, as he adjusts to increased usage and defensive attention.
Still, White’s elite defense, basketball IQ, and versatility make him one of the most valuable “glue guys” in the NBA. When the Celtics need a stop or a smart play late in games, White is often the player they turn to.
The return of six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum from his Achilles injury has many believing Boston has the talent to chase the Larry O’Brien Trophy again. Even with Tatum still working his way back into rhythm offensively, the Celtics are widely viewed as one of the top contenders in a somewhat weaker Eastern Conference.
The road to the NBA Finals from the East should be competitive and entertaining over the next couple of months. Boston will need every bit of White’s two-way impact if they want to get back to the mountaintop.
Whether Derrick White eventually decides the moon landing was real or stays forever skeptical probably won’t affect his jump shot. But it has certainly given the basketball world something fun to talk about while the Celtics chase another ring.
For now, Celtics fans will happily take White’s elite defense and basketball smarts — and gently suggest he stick to watching film instead of conspiracy documentaries.