Why Boston’s 6th man tradition perfectly suits Derrick White

Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty ImagesSome of the NBA’s most vaunted teams have had equally celebrated sixth men, players who didn’t necessarily open games but were as impactful as any starter. From Manu Ginobili and Shane Battier to Allie Quigley and Candice Wiggins, the history of basketball is full of examples of a player coming off the bench making a difference at the highest level.

As the 21-22 Boston Celtics continue to pick up steam, a starting core is beginning to take shape. The double bigs are getting it done, the Jays are the Jays, and Marcus Smart is an increasingly effective starting point guard. Boston’s core unit looks just about finalized, and the returns have been spectacular.

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