This season has been like a reset for Boston. In six weeks, the Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury. Kristaps Porziņģis went away to Atlanta, Jrue Holiday to Portland, and Al Horford has confirmed signing with the Warriors. With that many veterans gone, Boston now has a much younger, less proven roster. The continuity is no longer there. Training camp has become about teaching everyone how to play together while building chemistry from scratch.

In that sense, Derrick White is uniquely positioned. He joined Boston in February 2022 and has played alongside the veterans who are now gone. Over the summer, he witnessed firsthand the roster’s move, losing friends and teammates along the way.

For Derrick White, all of these changes came together on the first day of Celtics training camp, which started on September 29. With most of last year’s core gone, he admitted that even simple drills had a new rhythm to them. “Having the new guys, it kind of like brings different kind of energy and maybe a little bit more teaching,” White said on his podcast. Derrick, now one of the longest-tenured players in Boston, recognizes his evolving role in a group that must build on its chemistry.

On losing the og team, “Yeah, I mean, that is the tough part about the business,” White had said in a separate interview. “But it is a business at the end of the day. Jrue, KP, Luke [Kornet], all of them, it was definitely tough to see them leave. You wish we could play with them forever, but this is kind of the way it is. I always wish them the best. There will be a lot of fun when we see them again. And I’m just excited to play with the people we do have.”

The 30-year-old guard said he is excited. “It’s obviously a different year than last year, but I think we have the same expectations and standards. So I’ve been attacking this offseason as, ‘I gotta get better.’ It’s been really fun trying to get in the gym and improve on things that I need to work on. When we get back to Boston, it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Of course, it was different, and it reflected upon the familiarity the current players have. When asked whether there were many familiar faces apart from Baylor Scheierman in this year’s Celtics training camp, Derrick White simply responded, “Yes,” Baylor Scheierman, the 2024 first-round pick, is effectively the only player from recent additions who was around. Standing 6’6″ and known for his shooting and defensive versatility, Scheierman has quickly become one of the Celtics’ promising wings, but even he is still adjusting to Boston’s system and culture.

He framed the shift with optimism. “We’re all just taking it one day at a time… I had a fun day. It was a lot, but it was fun,” he said. The intensity of the Celtics’ training camp is a deliberate setup under HC Mazulla. Assistant coach Sam Cassell called it “the hardest” camp he’s ever seen, emphasizing the team’s goal to be “the hardest playing team in basketball.” Mazzulla’s reputation for intensity is nothing new, particularly after Boston’s painful Eastern Conference Semifinals loss to the Knicks last spring. With a younger and less experienced roster, Mazzulla is allowed to push the players harder than he could before. And that reflects early on in the team’s performance in their pre-season opener.

Hard play philosophy on display in preseason opener

In their preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Celtics secured a 121–103 victory. Jaylen Brown led the team with 21 points in just 20 minutes, showcasing his scoring prowess. Derrick White contributed 16 points and 10 assists, demonstrating his evolving role as a primary playmaker.

The game also highlighted the contributions of younger players:

• Josh Minott recorded 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals in 26 minutes.

• Hugo González impressed with 3 blocks and a 3-pointer.

• Baylor Scheierman, the 2024 first-round pick, showcased his shooting and defensive versatility.

These performances underscore the potential of the Celtics’ emerging talents and their readiness to step up in the absence of veteran leadership.

With the roster overhaul, the Celtics are adapting their strategies to leverage their current strengths:

• Increased Pace: The team is focusing on a faster tempo, capitalizing on the athleticism of their younger players.

• Defensive Versatility: Emphasizing switch-heavy schemes to maximize defensive flexibility.

• Wing Development: Investing in the growth of wing players like Minott, González, and Scheierman to bolster both ends of the court.

These adjustments aim to create a dynamic and adaptable team capable of competing at a high level.

Best-Case Scenario: The young players rapidly develop, Derrick White thrives in his expanded role, and the team establishes a strong defensive identity, leading to a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. Base Scenario: The team experiences growing pains, with inconsistent performances, but still secures a playoff spot. Worst-Case Scenario: Injuries and lack of cohesion hinder progress, resulting in missing the playoffs.

The Boston Celtics are entering a transformative period, navigating the challenges of roster changes and the absence of key players. With Derrick White stepping into a leadership role and the coaching staff implementing a rigorous training regimen, the team is laying the groundwork for a promising future. While uncertainties remain, the Celtics’ commitment to growth and adaptation will be crucial in shaping their trajectory for the 2025–26 season.