Derrick White and Jrue Holiday Talk Olympic Gold Medals and NBA Championships

The 2023-24 NBA season got off to a bit of a competitive start, internally speaking, for the Boston Celtics. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday made it known that they held a block contest. Inside a studio just steps away from the Auerbach Center’s practice parquet floor on an early September afternoon, last season’s friendly competition is the first topic of conversation.

Jrue immediately points to Derrick, the winner.

“I won the blocks, I think Jrue won the steals. I was confident that I would hit him with blocks, and we got that,” said Derrick, before quickly looking at Jrue as he prepared to return. “The Stock Exchange, they both count,” he continued.

Steals, blocks, 30-piece knockdowns and everything in between, it’s no exaggeration to say that the Celtics’ starting point guard does anything and everything it takes to win. And because of that, they experienced a summer that only six other NBA players have ever had: winning an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal all within the span of two months. Now add SLAM cover stars to that list. They just won’t stop winning.

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Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are more than dedicated to their many, many responsibilities. They reached greatness by using see. They are very efficient in everything, so at a moment’s notice, they can fulfill any required role. They protect the best players, regardless of position. They started a lawsuit. They work out of the dunker spot. They put their bodies on the line. They make the game easy for everyone around them. So when it came to building the US men’s national team for 2024, the transition from the Cs was imminent.

Jrue started in three of the team’s six games as the starting point guard, dropping 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals against Serbia in the opener. Coming off the bench, Derrick went 3-3 from downtown and swiped 3 goals against South Sudan. While the surrounding group of stars are soaking up the spotlight, Derrick and Jrue are holding onto the intangibles in the backfield.

“Everybody has been doing big things about the roles and everybody has to play a little bit differently. But for me and Jrue, we just played the way we play, just did the same things we did with Boston,” said Derrick about playing in Paris with Team USA. “We didn’t have to change much. Obviously, the minutes and everything looked different, but I didn’t feel like I had to go in there and be someone I’m not or change anything.”

There is a strong confidence in Derrick White, which was fully realized by all League fans after being burned repeatedly by the Parker, CO, native. From Boston’s outpouring of appreciation to earning All-Star honors in San Antonio—where Derrick spent the first five years of the L’s campaign—last year was the best of his career: 15.2 points, 5.2 dimes, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1 steal per game. On 39.6 percent shooting from three.

The playoffs were his playground. Thirty-eight against Miami in Game 4 of the opening round. Four blocks for the Pacers in game 3. Five steals two nights later.

But it’s the number of ridiculous blocks that Jrue consistently makes—87 of them on the season, to be exact. Go on YouTube and there is a three and a half minute masterclass dedicated solely to rim protection.

“Nobody else in the league can do it the same way,” Jrue said of Derrick. “He blocks shots like a big man. To me, that’s amazing. Not only does he have the talent, the ability, the timing to block shots—and guard your best player, where in this League, super it is difficult to supervise anyone. Having a backcourt partner like that and knowing that the drop-off isn’t there at all, I feel like for some people, it’s scary, but it’s nice to know that every night is going to be a tough night for any team.

“Wearing this jersey is not easy. There is a lot of pressure associated with it,” continued Jrue. “Even the season he had is proof of the work he has put in. The way he played, how he came out and played since the beginning of the season, the team’s run. Even starting it in Miami, like the first series. I mean, just cooking. That means a lot to us, but he did the job.”

There’s a common thread throughout our conversation: Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are unselfish at their core. They can’t help but give their flowers to others. It’s not just how they play, it’s who they are. Recommendations are thrown back and forth as if they were working in a cycle. They have earned it. And as both can attest, these are lifelong habits.

“I think our parents did a good job of raising us and were able to show us that giving back is the way to go, and I think that’s how you find happiness—by serving other people,” Jrue said. “I think that over time you start to realize that helping other people is very important. For us, I think it just translates to our game. Yes, the Stock Exchange.

The happiness they seek does not come from submitting a superior work. Wins take care of that—along with assists and continued defensive displays that lead to 64 regular-season wins and shiny gold hardware.

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A combination of pride, skill and fearlessness underpins the Celtics’ two lockdown performers. Going back to D. Pushing the ball on drives. Deviation in the direction of relief. Cutting pick-and-roll. Diving for loose balls while gritting your teeth. It is a collective effort of chaotic beauty.

“Since I was still in the League, it was known that Jrue is one of those high-class people. Just being in this team, you can see that the boys don’t even want to drive the ball up when he is there. As soon as they see Jrue, it’s like, Give it to someone else, let them see it,” said Derrick. “Playing against him, you get a deeper appreciation for night vision
and at night.”

While Derrick had two seasons to get used to playing alongside Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Co., Jrue arrived in Boston on the first day of training camp. It was a few weeks before the season title, and Derrick was already comfortable running the point. So the two worked on what their version of the Celtics would look like. When the reps met together, they felt comfortable.

“When we got to training camp, Derrick was so confident he was at guard that it helped me,” Jrue said. “I think being able to play him from the beginning was really fun for me. His confidence and knowing that I’m here to manage the team and do whatever it takes to win, just gave me confidence, I know well, If I follow him and follow his direction, I will live.”

More often than not, Jrue has been the one leading the charge throughout his career. In Philly, New Orleans, Milwaukee, each stop had him running the program as the head of the offense. Then 33 years old, entering an already somewhat hardened state, Jrue’s mentality was the same as always: help where needed.

Game averages of 12.5 points and 4.8 assists may be a drop from previous years, but the game is much bigger than the core stats. Jrue’s work this season didn’t always show up in the box score—unlike his career-high 5.4 rebounds—but it had a big impact on the team and the greater Boston area.

“This season, I feel like the city of Boston matches the way we play. Hard nose, blue collar, no excuses. “Anything they ask me to do, I’ll do it, and I feel like the city of Boston is like that,” Jrue said. “You have to see these fans. I’m telling you, honestly from the first pre-season game to the last game of the season, they’ve been there supporting, they’ve been there cheering like I’ve never seen. It’s like the most crazy experience I’ve been a part of. I feel like they appreciate that because [they] You understand my game and how I play.”

Recognition was shared from Dorchester to the front office, with both Jrue and Derrick signing four-year, nine-figure contract extensions. The best defensive outfield in the league is back in Boston, and so is the Larry O’Brien Award.

Even though they are wrapped in their Iconic green and white stripes, a large amount of gold fills the space. Light dances from the Olympic Gold medals hanging around their necks, showing the Finals trophy they carefully hand each other. Standing in front of a row of decorated bleachers, even here the weight of the 18 championship banners hanging from the rafters from left field can be felt.

Derrick and Jrue know the expectations will be high next season and they welcome it. They depend heavily on the trust they have built in the backfield, and the bad mindset of coach Joe Mazzella.

“Right now, we’re still getting back to it, getting our minds right. Knowing that when the season starts, Joe will be ready to go,” said Derrick before Jrue laughed.

“That’s for sure,” he says.

“He’s probably happier than anyone to have a victim on our back. You have heard the whole talk. That is legitimately who you are. That’s the type of guy you want to play for,” Derrick said. “Last year was last year. You must continue to have the same mindset to improve, improve and focus on the things we do. “

Photos by Marcus Stevens.