Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has been named the winner of the 2024 NBA Sportsmanship Award, the league announced on Tuesday. The award recognizes a player who best exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court, including ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity.
White, known for his unselfish play and calm demeanor, received the highest number of votes from a panel of NBA executives. He beat out finalists including Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo.
This marks the second straight year a Celtics player has won the award, following Malcolm Brogdon's win in 2023. White has been a key contributor for Boston, averaging 12.4 points and 4.2 assists per game this season while often guarding the opponent's best perimeter player.
"Derrick is the epitome of what this award stands for," said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. "He competes hard every night but always with respect for the game and his opponents. We're incredibly proud of him."
The award was established in 1996 and is voted on by NBA players. White now receives the Joe Dumars Trophy, named after the Hall of Fame guard who was the award's first recipient.