Derrick White’s contract details with the Celtics: salary, years left...

The Boston Celtics are looking to claim their first NBA Championship since 2008 and should they overcome the Dallas Mavericks in the best of seven series, they would edge past arch rivals LA Lakers with 18 NBA titles to the 17 secured by the team from the City of Angels.

Any fears that Celtics fans may have held that the ‘ghosts of the 2022 defeat at the hands of the Warriors’ were quickly dispelled on Thursday night as a packed TD Garden watched the home side dismantle Dallas Mavericks with little trouble as part of a 89-107 Game 1 win.

Porzingis impact

Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, with Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis back on court after missing ten games with the 28-year-old making an immediate impact off the bench adding 20 on his comeback.

The seven foot tall Porzingis had been sidelined since April 29, added six rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes.

“Tonight was affirmation to myself that I’m pretty good,” Porzingis said jokingly. “I’m not perfect but I can play like this and I can add to this team.”

The last Celtics player to enter the court for pregame warmups, he said he received a jolt of energy from a home crowd, which erupted when he emerged from the tunnel.

“The adrenaline was pumping through my veins,” Porzingis said.

Jayson Tatum bagged 16 points and Derrick White finished the night with 15 points for Boston in an emphatic start in their quest for an 18th NBA title.

White, unsung hero

A regular fixture in the Celtics team, playing 82 games last season and has already racked up 73 appearances in the 23-24 campaign.

According to the details of his latest contract, White will remain a Celtics player through to 2025 and as yet he has yet to pen an extension or renewed deal. His reported base salary is $18,821,429 with a cap hit of $19,571,429 for the current 2024-25 season. 

As things stand, the guard will remain with the Massachusetts franchise until at least 2025, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.