Let us all, who enjoy good things for good people, rejoice as the Boston Celtics win their 18th franchise championship. There are multiple reasons to celebrate this grand achievement, even though the San Antonio Spurs do not actually get anything out of this ordeal. Nonetheless, that is no reason to turn a blind eye to the margins and the people involved in winning a ring.
The margins are that the Lakers are no longer tied for the lead in NBA championships. The person involved is a little more directly connected to the community.
Derrick White, on everything the Celtics have gone through preparing them for this moment, and winning the title: “They kept saying we weren’t battle-tested. What, did the last two years mean nothing?”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 18, 2024
Despite never winning a championship in San Antonio, Derrick White is beloved in the city like he played his entire career in the 2-1-0, capping it with multiple rings. Alamo City will always cheer for a guy who humbly worked hard every day—a guy they watched grow from a player uncertain of himself to one confidently playing his role and impacting the game in all aspects and the biggest moments.
The Spurs can learn from White’s mindset
Every year is a test and every year is a battle. You have to learn from all of your experiences, and if you are one of the few players fortunate enough to make it to the NBA Finals, you have to leave it all out there. Everything these players are going through now is part of a process to strengthen their resolve for those larger-than-life situations they could find themselves in.
White had never been to a conference final before, but he trusted his work ethic and believed in who he was as a player, allowing him to perform at a high level. He made countless plays for his team by being true to what got him there—hard work, hustle, diligence and fearlessness. Let it be a lesson to the youngest roster in the league—in the words of Kevin Garnett: Anything is possible.
