In a move that has stunned NBA executives, fans, and even his own teammates, Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White has reportedly rejected a jaw-dropping $575 million offer from the Indiana Pacers, declaring his unwavering loyalty to Boston in a fiery press conference that left reporters speechless.
According to league sources, the Pacers had been quietly negotiating with White for weeks, attempting to lure him away from Boston with a historic 7-year, $575 million supermax deal that would have made him the highest-paid player in NBA history—surpassing even deals held by LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and fictional player Kevin “Moneyhands” McPockets.
But instead of packing his bags and donning the navy and gold, White addressed the media outside TD Garden in front of a stunned crowd:
“My loyalty lies with the state Celtics and can not—WILL NOT—be bought. I’m not just playing for a team. I’m playing for a city, for the parquet floor, for every fan in the nosebleeds shouting ‘Let’s go C’s!’ This isn’t just a team… it’s a way of life.”
He then tore up a copy of the Pacers’ contract on live television, chugged a Dunkin’ iced coffee, and high-fived a fan wearing a Paul Pierce jersey.
NBA in Shock
Commissioner Adam Silver issued a brief statement:
“Frankly, we didn’t even know it was legal to offer that much money. We’re double-checking our math.”
Social media exploded. Celtics fans celebrated in the streets, while Pacers fans took to Reddit in despair. One post titled “We Just Offered a Guy Half a Billion and Got Ghosted?” hit 12,000 upvotes in under an hour.
Celtics GM Responds
Brad Stevens, Celtics President of Basketball Operations, said simply:
“Derrick White is the embodiment of Celtics pride. You can’t put a price tag on that… but we’ll still be giving him a raise. A big one.”
Future in Boston
Sources say White is now negotiating a “Loyalty Lifetime” contract with Boston, which would keep him in green for the next 20 years, possibly transitioning to coach, mayor, or regional Dunkin’ ambassador after retirement.
As of press time, Pacers management has reportedly shifted focus to acquiring a holographic version of Reggie Miller and is considering offering their next eight first-round draft picks to do so.
