In the Celtics' victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, guard Derrick White made franchise history as he surpassed Isaiah Thomas' record for most 3-pointers made in a single season. White, who has only been a member of the Celtics for three seasons, said a crucial moment of his career was "life changing" and credited Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green for opening his eyes.
When the Celtics lost to the Warriors in the 2023 NBA Finals, White was in his second season with the team and found the defense by Golden State as eye opening. After setting the new franchise record on Monday, White spoke about the realization he had going up against Green and the Warriors, revealing that the way he was defended by them was a life changing moment for him.
"After the (2023) Finals, I felt like it was the biggest summer of my life," White told reporters in the locker room after the game. "Obviously what happened in the Finals and how I was being guarded, on that stage, it was one of the lowest points. I told Draymond (Green) after the Olympics that he kind of changed my life, because they weren't guarding me. I had to go in with my trainer and focus on being consistent and I just kept building to get better."
Derrick White now has proven to not only be a consistent offensive weapon, but a player that teams must make sure they're guarding hard each and every night. White, who has the franchise record with 246 made 3-pointers in a single season, could have some company with Jayson Tatum (240) and Payton Pritchard (237) right behind him on the list this year.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Derrick White credits Draymond Green for life-changing moment
