It’s not often you hear the home crowd cheer for a player on the away team, but that’s what happened when the Boston Celtics went to San Antonio on New Year’s Eve, which has become a bit of a homecoming for former Spurs guard Derrick White.

White has produced an All-Star caliber season and it’s fair to say that most people around the NBA believe he is as well. We’ve heard the fans at the TD Garden hoot-and-holler for their own players but now we’re starting to see it happen on the road.

During pregame on Sunday evening, longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich expressed his admiration for White, a 2017 first round pick selected by Popovich.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of a player. When he first came, I don’t think he believed he belonged in the NBA. And to watch him develop through the years here, starting with the G League and playing with us and then starting for us and then taking more steps in Boston has just been a thrill to watch. He’s one of the greatest guys ever and his confidence has just exploded. It’s been a process. He’s been in the league six, seven years? I’m not sure anymore, but he’s a great story. Starting out at the bottom and believing in himself and doing the work necessary to get where he is now. So, just thrilled for him.”

White didn’t have an easy path to the NBA but he worked hard enough and it caught the eye of the Hall of Fame head coach in San Antonio where White started his NBA career.

“He just kept pushing me. He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. My first year I was in the G League, which allowed me to learn the NBA game. And from there [he] continued to push me and add that confidence. I used to be in the mail room and he’d walk in and say, ‘you belong’ and walk out.”

Celtics GM Brad Stevens may have always known that he was getting a good deal when he traded for White almost two-years ago, but I don’t think he expected to hit the jackpot like he has when he acquired White.

White is averaging 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game with 49/41/89 shooting splits this season.

He should be hearing more all-star chants in the new year.

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