Derrick White knows the sting of an early playoff exit all too well. After the Boston Celtics' shocking first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2026 Eastern Conference playoffs, the veteran guard didn't mince words about what went wrong—and what he plans to do about it.

"It really sucks," White said following the 109-100 defeat at TD Garden on May 2. "You always think you're going to play for a long time, and it ends so quickly. I'm super proud of the guys for an amazing year, and I'm thankful and blessed to be a part of this team, but it just sucks."

With star forward Jayson Tatum sidelined due to knee soreness, the pressure fell squarely on White's shoulders to snap out of a series-long shooting slump. And while the Colorado-Boulder alum did knock down some timely three-pointers, his overall numbers told a different story: 9-of-26 from the field and 5-of-16 from beyond the arc. He wasn't alone in the struggle—Jaylen Brown (12-of-27) and Payton Pritchard (5-of-13) also contributed to another frustratingly inefficient offensive night that ultimately sealed Boston's fate.

"Shooting is obviously a big part of the game, but it's not the only part," White acknowledged. "There are a lot of different ways to impact winning and help us win games even if you aren't making shots."

Still, the 29-year-old guard knows where his focus needs to be this offseason. "Obviously shooting is a really big part of the game, and I think we got a lot of good looks. We just didn't knock them down, especially down the stretch. So, I've got to go to the gym this summer and come back better."

For Celtics fans, that vow is exactly what they want to hear. White's determination to refine his shot could be the key to a deeper run next season—and a reminder that even in defeat, champions are built in the offseason.