San Antonio Spurs: 5 reasons Derrick White was a good pick
By Simon Shortt
5. Versatility
What White’s skills all really boil down to is that he’s versatile. He can do a little bit of everything on the basketball court. He scores at all three levels, can create offense, uses his size for rebounds and is a good defender when engaged.
One of the most valued positions in the NBA is a two-way wing. In the position-less NBA we talk about, you want these guys situated between your point guard and big man. White is cut from this type of cloth that people are looking for. He doesn’t have quite the length or athleticism people normally think of in this role, but the skills are there.
His offense is already there for this role. He is a good shooter who knows when to rip through and go at the basket. If he doesn’t have a shot, he can keep the ball moving or get someone a better look with his passing ability. Defensively he still has a little work to do. His 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game show he can make plays, but he will have to learn how to defend the bigger, more athletic wings players in the league.
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He’s still young, and relatively “inexperienced” with the single year at Division I. But playing with the Spurs will give him the chance to come into his own as a player. He has enough talent to make an impact right away, but in time could become a starter for a very good team.