Derrick White Reveals Gregg Popovich’s NSFW Trade Deadline Message That Sent Him From Spurs to Celtics With No Warning

As the Boston Celtics gear up for another run at banner No. 18, the offseason has been swirling with rumors, injury updates, and potential shakeups following a disappointing playoff exit. At the heart of their frustrations was Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury that derailed the team’s momentum when it mattered most. But amidst the cloud of uncertainty, a familiar voice has reemerged to tell a story that defines resilience, trust, and one coach’s brutally honest style.

Celtics guard Derrick White, who has become a pillar of the team’s perimeter excellence and defensive identity, peeled back the curtain on a turning point in his career—the day he was traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Boston Celtics. On a recent appearance on the “White Noise” podcast, White revealed how legendary coach Gregg Popovich broke the news in an unforgettable—and very NSFW—fashion.

“Pop walks into the room, and he’s like, ‘Uh, we traded you,’” White recalled with a chuckle. “And I’m like, ‘Shut up, Pop.’”

Popovich, a Hall of Famer and five-time NBA champion, is as revered for his on-court brilliance as he is for his dry wit and no-nonsense approach off the floor. For White, a player who spent his first five NBA seasons learning the Spurs’ way under Pop, the moment wasn’t just business—it was personal.

“We got Pop up here somewhere— For real, shoutout to Pop. We love that guy,” White continued. “But yeah, Pop calls me: ‘What room are you in?’ It’s trade deadline, so I’m like, ‘Oh, where am I going?’”

What came next was classic Popovich. Blunt, heartfelt, and laced with an R-rated punch.

“I’m like, ‘To where?’ And he goes, ‘We wouldn’t f*ck you. We sent you to Boston,’” White said. “I just played that summer with JT [Jayson Tatum], JB [Jaylen Brown], and Smart [Marcus Smart]. So I knew a bunch of people there.”

That message might sound brash, but it was also deeply intentional. Popovich didn’t send White just anywhere—he sent him somewhere that made sense. Somewhere where he could thrive. Somewhere where the culture aligned with what he had been taught in San Antonio.

“He’s like, ‘You’re going to be comfortable. They’ll kind of bring you along.’ And I’m like, ‘All right, that’s cool,’” White added. “I thought I’d fit well there, but also like—What? Why? What did I do?”

That last question lingered for White—not in bitterness, but in introspection. Why would a team that had helped mold him let him go at such a pivotal point in his development? The answer was twofold: the Spurs were beginning a full-scale rebuild, and the Celtics were making a push for contention. White was the ideal trade chip—seasoned, smart, unselfish, and the kind of two-way player that playoff teams covet.

Since arriving in Boston in 2022, White has not only justified the Celtics’ decision but evolved into one of their most indispensable pieces. He’s earned All-Defensive Team honors, emerged as a high-IQ playmaker alongside Tatum and Brown, and delivered critical postseason moments—none more iconic than his buzzer-beating putback in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat.

That journey from being blindsided by a trade call to becoming a beloved Celtic hasn’t been linear, but it’s been marked by growth.

“In San Antonio, I learned everything about professionalism,” White said. “You get there and it’s like, ‘This is how you carry yourself. This is how you prepare. This is how you watch film.’ Everything from Pop, from Tim [Duncan], from Manu [Ginóbili] being around—I soaked it all in.”

So when Popovich gave him that NSFW farewell, it wasn’t meant to sting—it was a send-off from a mentor who knew the next chapter would be just as meaningful.

White’s arrival also coincided with a new energy in Boston. The team’s core was beginning to peak. Tatum and Brown were maturing into leaders. Marcus Smart was the heartbeat. And White—low-maintenance, adaptable, and experienced in a team-first system—fit like a glove.

“Even back then, I had that summer with those guys, and I knew what they were about,” White recalled. “It made the transition smoother. But still, it was crazy to be traded. Like, one minute I’m getting shots up in San Antonio, the next I’m on a flight to Boston.”

It didn’t take long for White to establish himself as more than a role player. He became a connector—bridging the gap between stars and system, offense and defense, chaos and control. And now, with the Celtics continuing to chase the elusive 18th championship, he’s considered one of the league’s most underrated guards.

Even as trade rumors swirl this offseason—some involving White himself—he remains unfazed.

“I’ve heard it all,” he said. “You just learn not to take it personal. Boston has been great for me. I love it here. I want to win here.”

The echoes of that Popovich quote now serve as a full-circle moment. White was sent to Boston not as a castaway, but as a trusted disciple. Popovich, in his own way, handed White off to a franchise that shares his values: hard work, defense, selflessness, and trust.

And now, even with the Celtics facing offseason uncertainty—Tatum recovering from his injury, the team exploring upgrades, and the East growing tougher—White remains a bedrock. He’s one of the Celtics’ most consistent performers, a voice in the locker room, and a player who’s never forgotten where he came from.

“You never forget the people who believed in you,” White said. “Pop believed in me from day one. And then when the time came, he made sure I landed somewhere where I could keep growing. That meant everything.”

Popovich may be officially retired now, but his fingerprints are all over the league—and especially visible in Boston through Derrick White. That NSFW phone call, delivered with gruff affection, might’ve seemed brash at the time. But it turned out to be the beginning of something special.

As White enters another season with the Celtics, his transformation from Spurs afterthought to Boston cornerstone is complete. The trade that once felt like a punchline is now a defining chapter in his basketball journey.

And somewhere, Pop is probably smirking and muttering: “Told you we wouldn’t f*ck you.”