The NBA announced the 2025-26 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner on Thursday, giving the Joe Dumars Trophy to Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
The NBA Sportsmanship Award has been presented annually since 1995-96 season, recognizing the player “who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.”
White is the second consecutive Celtics player to win the award, following now-Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday.
White finished first in voting over Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell, San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors center Al Horford, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
White and the Celtics are tied 1-1 with the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers in their first-round playoff series. The 76ers notched an upset victory at Boston’s TD Garden on Tuesday night, tying the series before a Game 3 matchup in Philadelphia.
Tyrese Maxey, the 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner, finished Game 2 with 29 points and nine assists. White struggled in the loss, scoring just eight points on 3/12 shooting from the field and 2/10 shooting from behind the 3-point arc.
Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 36 points in the losing effort.
“I trust our group,” Brown said after the game, via ESPN. “We’ve grown a lot over the course [of the season]. … We’ve just got to continue to have the right mentality and have each other’s back and just breathe.
“It’s going to be a journey. It’s going to be some ups and some downs, but I’m looking forward to it with my guys.”