Derrick White Reveals Unique "Reward" Given By Boston Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla To Scrimmage Winners

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has played for some crafty coaches in his basketball career. His current mentor, Joe Mazzulla, is a unique case unto himself, as he has found a way to give scrimmages a fresh twist.

On an episode of his “White Noise” podcast, White told his co-host and best friend Alex Welsh that Mazzulla had devised a “reward” for Celtics players who win scrimmages in practice.

“We did this thing where the winners run,” said a chuckling White. “You’re getting rewarded by running.”

Why would Mazzulla take away the luster of winning a 5-on-5 during practice sessions? Apparently, he had a lesson to teach. “He was like, ‘We gotta change our mindset that winning is the reward. Running is our reward.’ We don’t just get to stand by and watch. It’s hard to win,” White explained.

The Celtics, of course, have figured out how to win in the incredibly competitive environment of the NBA under Mazzulla’s tutelage. In just his second season with the storied franchise, Mazzulla led the team to the NBA Finals, where they defeated a Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks squad in five games. It was a historic feat: The Celtics won an unprecedented 18th NBA title, while 35-year-old Mazzulla became the youngest head coach to reach the summit.

White, who played a key role on both ends of the floor for that championship squad, appears to have embraced the tough-love tactics that Mazzulla has employed.

“I think it was a cool message. If you win, you can’t relax. There’s always another obstacle to overcome,” he added.

Unfortunately for Celtics fans, this is another reality that they know all too well. The year after Banner 18, the team was unable to return to the NBA Finals, as they were eliminated in the second round by the New York Knicks. In that best-of-seven series, Jayson Tatum sustained a season-ending Achilles injury.

With Tatum out for an extended period of time and key pieces of the 2024 title squad (namely, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis) shipped off to other teams, White and the rest of the Celtics will need to figure out how to survive and thrive in a tough Eastern Conference. One thing’s for sure, though: Their creative head coach will be there to help them navigate the chaos.