By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA has officially announced that Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has been named the recipient of the 2025-26 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
In securing the honor, the 31-year-old guard earned the prestigious Joe Dumars Trophy, an accolade designed to recognize the player who best exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship, integrity, and ethical conduct on the court. This selection marks a consecutive victory for the C’s backcourt, following Jrue Holiday’s win last season prior to his departure for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The selection process began with each of the league’s thirty franchises nominating a single player. From that pool, a panel of league executives narrowed the field to six finalists representing each of the NBA’s divisions. This year’s finalists included Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Harrison Barnes of the San Antonio Spurs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors, and T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers. The ultimate winner was determined through a vote by current NBA players, who utilized a weighted points system to rank their peers.
The 2025-26 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner is… Derrick White!
White receives the Joe Dumars Trophy for the annual honor that recognizes the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. pic.twitter.com/H8xFd2WyoP
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2026
The final results revealed a remarkably close race. While McConnell actually secured more first-place votes, leading 83 to 77, White’s consistent presence on ballots earned him a significant advantage in second-place votes. Ultimately, White finished with 2,827 total points, surpassing McConnell’s 2,566, with Barnes at 2,486, Horford at 2,456, Adebayo at 1,950, and Gilgeous-Alexander at 1,632.
This honor adds a distinguished chapter to White’s career achievements, which already include a 2024 NBA championship, multiple All-Defensive selections, and an Olympic gold medal.