Nikola Vucevic was reportedly willing to pay up to $5 million to acquire the No. 9 jersey from his new teammate, Derrick White, after joining the Boston Celtics earlier this month. But the idea stalled when White jokingly raised the asking price.
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Speaking on his podcast, “White Noise Podcast with Derrick & Welsh,” in an episode released on Valentine’s Day, White said he wouldn’t part with the number easily, even for $5 million. He added that $10 million would be more appropriate, explaining that the jersey carries personal meaning as his favorite number, making it difficult to give up.
“Yeah, if he said five [million], it’s not [happening]. But if he said 10 [million], all right, that’d be fine. Nine is my favorite number,” White said on the podcast.
“When I see my people wear 9 in the Garden and it’s like a Nike jersey, then I’m like, ‘Ah, I know that’s mine.’ So there’s something special about that,” he added.
Throughout Vucevic’s 15-year career with teams such as the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers, the two-time All-Star — who was drafted by Philadelphia in 2011 — became closely associated with wearing No. 9.
He was traded to Boston on Feb. 5, giving the veteran center a chance to join a legitimate contender.
The Montenegrin center now finds himself on one of the NBA’s most competitive and historically successful franchises.
The Celtics in the 2025=2026 season have been battling near the top of the Eastern Conference standings alongside teams like the New York Knicks, positioning themselves firmly in the playoff race.
Meanwhile, star forward Jayson Tatum has been recovering from injury and rehabbing with Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, as he works toward returning to the lineup.
White, who has been playing point guard for the Celtics since 2022, having won an NBA championship with the team, hosts his “White Noise” podcast with his close friend Alex Welsh.
“There’s something kind of special about looking up and seeing all that. My fans know me as No. 9. If there was a special reason he wanted to be No. 9, maybe I would consider it. But I kind of want to stay 9,” White said.
Vucevic, who is now wearing No. 4 in Boston, would likely have no problem affording White’s $10 million asking price.
Vucevic is earning more than $21 million for the 2025–26 NBA season, according to Spotrac.
The figure is part of his three-year, $60 million contract originally signed with the Chicago Bulls.
White is not hurting for money either. The Celtics guard is making more than $26 million this season, and his total career earnings exceed $118 million.
His signed his current four-year, $125.9 million contract in July 2024.
