Boston Celtics guard Derrick White is leaving no stone unturned. Despite coming off the best season of his NBA career after averaging 16.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, both career highs, White said his game still needs a lot of work and has a lot of room for improvement.
During the first episode of his “White Noise” podcast, he revealed that with training camp coming up, he has started his individual workouts. White also detailed what the last couple of weeks have been like while also revealing what he wants to learn to get better.
“Obviously, get in the weight room. I got to get bigger. I got to get stronger. Got to be more explosive. I just think that’s the baseline of every NBA player. And then when I do get to the court, I do obviously do keep working on things that I do well. But I think it’s a big summer to get better on the things that I don’t do well. I want to get my Payton Pritchard bag up,” said White.
The viral Payton Pritchard dribbling video
Make no mistake, Payton Pritchard is the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, but for a starter like White to want his bag, that’s a huge compliment. But then again, Pritchard’s skill set, especially his handles, is elite and still criminally underrated.
Pritchard’s handles are overlooked because he is more known for his half-court buzzer beaters and ability to shoot the 3-ball lights out. However, if you go back to 2020, during the height of the league stoppage due to the pandemic, Payton became viral because of a video displaying his dribbling drills.
“He’s unbelievable. I’m about to get to the garage real soon. Late in the summer, I’ll be in the garage. I got like P like that, but I’m working, P,” added White.
It’s not just a bag, it’s a Samsonite
Curiously, it’s not just White who is interested in Pritchard’s bag. Just last month, travel gear leader Samsonite, which is based in Massachusetts, tapped the former Oregon Duck to be the face of its new campaign called “It’s not just a bag, it’s a Samsonite,” giving Payton his second endorsement deal in the last four months, after his shoe contract with Converse.
“Payton is the embodiment of the modern-day utility player – versatile, dynamic, and always moving with intention,” shared Veronica Rodriguez-Greene, Chief Brand Officer and Executive Creative Director, StudioHS, about Samsonite picking Pritchard. “He is not just an athlete, he’s an explorer whose every move, every game, every story reflects the journey of many of today’s travelers and the essence of the campaign: timeless, innovative, and quietly iconic.”
Meanwhile, the Celtics will need everything in Pritchard’s bag next season with Jayson Tatum injured and Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis gone. The Celtics landed Anfernee Simons for Holiday, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see Pritchard share more backcourt minutes with White. Now, imagine if White had PP’s bag — that would be a serious tandem to try to contain.
