‘Go F*ing Win It All’: How Gregg Popovich’s Raw Parting Words Fueled Derrick White’s Rise to Boston Celtics Stardom and NBA Glory**
When Derrick White was traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Boston Celtics in February 2022, it wasn’t just a basketball transaction — it was a seismic shift in his life and career. He was leaving behind the franchise that drafted him, the city that raised him, and the coach who molded him. And yet, as he walked out the door, he received a message that would stick with him forever — from none other than Gregg Popovich himself.
The message? Raw. Blunt. Unfiltered. Classic Popovich.
“Go f***ing win it all.”
It was the kind of goodbye only Pop could deliver. No long speech. No emotional hug. Just five words, said with intensity and purpose. But behind that profanity-laced sendoff was an entire world of respect. A challenge. A torch being passed. And Derrick White, quiet by nature but fiery in spirit, took it personally.
White had always been one of Popovich’s favorites — not because he was flashy, but because he was dependable. Hard-nosed. Smart. Willing to do the dirty work. He was everything the Spurs prided themselves on: unselfish, disciplined, versatile. Drafted 29th overall in 2017 after a late-blooming college career, White didn’t come into the league with hype. He had to grind. He had to prove. He had to fit.
Under Pop’s guidance, he did all of that and more. He developed into one of the league’s most underappreciated guards — a steady presence on both ends of the floor, capable of scoring when needed but more often doing the little things that don’t make headlines. Defense. Ball movement. Smart decisions. He wasn’t going to wow you with crossovers, but he was going to win possessions — and coaches live for players like that.
So when the trade went down, it wasn’t easy for either side. San Antonio was resetting. Boston was pushing all in. And Derrick White — caught in the middle — had to uproot his life overnight. But Popovich’s parting message made one thing crystal clear: he wasn’t being cast aside. He was being sent into battle, with a coach’s full blessing.
That message echoed in White’s ears during those first few weeks in Boston. New system. New teammates. New expectations. But something clicked. The fit was instant. Celtics fans saw it. His defense. His hustle. His ability to make the next pass, hit the timely three, chase down rebounds, contest shots, and never complain about touches. He wasn’t a star in the spotlight — he was a star in the margins. And that’s exactly what the Celtics needed.
Fast forward to the 2023–24 season, and White was no longer just a role player — he was essential. The Celtics leaned on his steadiness. They trusted him in crunch time. They asked him to guard elite guards, make open shots, initiate offense, and do it all without ever breaking the rhythm of the team. And he delivered. Night after night, possession after possession.
Then came the playoffs. And with them, the moments that define legacies.
White stepped up in every series. He hit big shots. Made critical stops. Took charges. Dived on the floor. Swung momentum. And when the Finals came — when the pressure was at its peak — he didn’t shrink. He rose. He defended like his life depended on it. He kept spacing intact. He hit corner threes. He became the X-factor everyone underestimated — until it was too late.
And when the final buzzer sounded and Boston was crowned champions, somewhere in San Antonio, you better believe Gregg Popovich was smiling. Because Derrick White had done exactly what he was told.
He went and f***ing won it all.
The arc of White’s story isn’t just about a trade or a trophy. It’s about growth. About how a kid who was overlooked out of high school — who started his college career at Division II Colorado-Colorado Springs before transferring to Colorado — climbed all the way to NBA royalty. He didn’t take shortcuts. He didn’t jump on highlight reels. He just worked. And worked. And worked.
Popovich saw that. He nurtured it. And when the time came, he pushed White out of the Spurs’ nest with a shove and a blessing.
The transition from Popovich to Mazzulla was seamless for White. Both coaches value toughness and intelligence. Both ask their players to be thinkers, not just athletes. White thrives in those systems. He’s not just reacting on the court — he’s reading it like a chessboard. And his ability to play both ends with discipline and IQ makes him a coach’s dream.
Ask his teammates, and they’ll tell you the same thing. Jayson Tatum? Says White is one of the most underrated players in the league. Jaylen Brown? Calls him the glue. Jrue Holiday? Says White has “the best defensive instincts I’ve ever seen in a backcourt partner.” And Joe Mazzulla? He doesn’t mince words: “Derrick wins us games. Period.”
And yet, White stays humble. That’s the Popovich influence too. No theatrics. No celebration tours. Just calm professionalism and a quiet edge. After the title, when asked what was going through his mind, he smiled and simply said, “Pop told me to win it. So that’s what I tried to do.”
There are players who dazzle with talent. Then there are players who embody the soul of winning. White is the latter. His game might not be loud, but it’s lasting. The plays he makes — the block at the rim, the rotation that prevents a corner three, the perfectly placed bounce pass — those are the plays that win championships. And now, he has the jewelry to prove it.
The Celtics know it. That’s why they extended him. That’s why they trust him with the ball in big moments. That’s why he’s on the floor when the game is tight and the stakes are highest. Because Derrick White might not be the loudest name in the box score, but he’s always one of the biggest reasons the Celtics walk away with a win.
And in a league that often chases flash, his journey is a reminder: there’s still a place for substance. For defense. For humility. For guys who care more about stops than stats. White doesn’t just play basketball — he plays winning basketball. The kind Popovich built his career around. The kind Boston built a banner on.
It’s poetic, in a way. That a player molded by the most selfless, no-nonsense culture in basketball would end up being the missing piece in another legendary franchise’s championship puzzle. That a player who never demanded the spotlight ended up shining the brightest in the moments that mattered.
Popovich knew. That message — five words, full of fire — wasn’t just a goodbye. It was a torch passed. And White carried it all the way to the mountaintop.
Today, Derrick White is more than a role player. He’s a champion. A difference-maker. A beloved Celtic. And yes — a product of San Antonio’s winning DNA.
And somewhere in Texas, you can still hear Pop’s voice echoing.
Go f***ing win it all.
Message received.
Mission complete.
