- White appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 4.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.5 minutes. A broken thumb suffered in January sidelined him until early March.
- White scored a season-high 12 points in a season-high 15 minutes against the Lakers on Nov. 22, which led all Thunder reserves.
- White had three stints with the Tulsa 66ers this season.
- In 10 D-League contests (10 starts), White averaged 20.2 points and 11.1 rebounds in 39.2 minutes.
- In one D-League playoff game, White tallied 21 points, five rebounds and four assists.
D.J. White dedicated his offseason to catching up for lost time, which translated to playing in two summer leagues and spending a majority of the summer working with coaches in Oklahoma City.
Few players can overcome what White experienced as a rookie.
White missed nearly the entire season with a benign tumor in his jaw, which needed two surgeries to correct. It kept him out of commission before the season even began.
White went from Big Ten Player of the Year at Indiana to being drafted by the Detroit Pistons to being traded to the Thunder on draft day to sitting out the first 75 games of the season.
But White remained patient. He focused on the positive. His time finally came on April 5, 2009, against the Indiana Pacers when he made his professional debut before a near- standing ovation in front of friends and family. He scored 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting.
Judging by his play over the final seven games of last season and two Summer Leagues, it’s easy to see why the Thunder was so high on White.
The 6-9 forward has a knack for hitting the midrange jump shot, but has a healthy obsession with playing defense and collecting rebounds.
White grew up playing basketball in Tuscaloosa. Ala., before migrating north to Indiana, where he finished his career as the school’s 16th leading scorer.
Few players can overcome what White experienced as a rookie.
White missed nearly the entire season with a benign tumor in his jaw, which needed two surgeries to correct. It kept him out of commission before the season even began.
White went from Big Ten Player of the Year at Indiana to being drafted by the Detroit Pistons to being traded to the Thunder on draft day to sitting out the first 75 games of the season.
But White remained patient. He focused on the positive. His time finally came on April 5, 2009, against the Indiana Pacers when he made his professional debut before a near- standing ovation in front of friends and family. He scored 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting.
Judging by his play over the final seven games of last season and two Summer Leagues, it’s easy to see why the Thunder was so high on White.
The 6-9 forward has a knack for hitting the midrange jump shot, but has a healthy obsession with playing defense and collecting rebounds.
White grew up playing basketball in Tuscaloosa. Ala., before migrating north to Indiana, where he finished his career as the school’s 16th leading scorer.
