Derrick White has never made an All-Star Game, but calling him a role player doesn’t adequately capture his value to the Celtics. Some nights, the game calls for him to take on a smaller role. But others, like Wednesday against the Knicks, he’s asked to be a star.
By most definitions, the term “role player” refers to someone that has a clear set of responsibilities, and is counted on to fulfill them. They aren’t expected to go above and beyond that role, but just excel at what you do and be there to make life easier for the team’s best players.