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Celtics guard Derrick White’s demand for No. 9 jersey after Nikola Vucevic’s $5 million offer
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- Celtics guard Derrick White’s demand for No. 9 jersey after Nikola Vucevic’s $5 million offer
Celtics guard Derrick White's demand for No. 9 jersey after Nikola Vucevic's $5 million offer appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Upon his arrival, when Nikola Vucevic came from the Chicago Bulls ' trade to join the Boston Celtics , the veteran center wanted to take his No. 9 with him, which belongs to Celtics' Derrick White . Vucevic reached out to White via text, offering the 2024 champion guard a whopping $5 million.
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White declined, but admits that if Vucevic had doubled the initial $5 million offer , he'd agreed to give up his No. 9, he said, per the White Noise Podcast.
"$5 million's not enough. If he said $10 [million], yeah — that's fine," White said. "[No.] 9 is my favorite number. When I see people wearing number 9 at the Garden, and it's a Nike jersey, I'm like oh, I know that's mine. If there was a special reason he wanted to be [No.] 9, maybe I would consider it… I'm willing to switch for $10 million."
Nikola Vucevic settled for No. 4 instead of Derrick White 's No. 9 with the Celtics. Vucevic also recorded a double-double (12 rebounds, 11 points) with four assists, and two steals in a 98-96 win against the Miami Heat in his Celtics debut.
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Nikola Vucevic receives a standing ovation in Celtics debut
David Butler II-Imagn Images
Celtics center Nikola Vucevic received a stading ovation at TD Garden . In his first game with the Celtics, Vucevic came off the bench to fans on their feet welcoming him to his new home.
Vucevic followed up his double-double performance with another (19 points, 11 rebounds) against his former team, the Bulls. The Celtics cruised to a 124-105 victory before the All-Star break. Vucevic went 7-for-12, including 4-for-5 from deep, three assists, two blocks, and one steal.
The Celtics will face the Warriors on Thursday.
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