SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs announced Thursday they signed guard Derrick White, the club’s first-round pick (No. 29) in last month's NBA draft.
The team didn’t announce terms of the deal, but per the league’s rookie scale, it’s expected the contract is worth upward of $7 million over four years, with team options over the last two years of the deal.
White (6-feet-4, 190 pounds) is currently competing with the Spurs’ squad at the Utah Jazz Summer League and is averaging 11.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds over 21.8 minutes in his first two outings.
With uncertainty regarding depth and the recovery of veteran point guard Tony Parker, the Spurs addressed the backcourt by selecting White with the No. 29 pick out of the University of Colorado and bringing back backup veteran Patty Mills at the start of free agency on a four-year deal worth $50 million.
“It’s crazy to be a part of the Spurs organization,” White said on draft night. “They have a great history, and coach [Gregg] Pop[ovich] has done an amazing job. I just want to get there and join the Spurs way.”
A native of Parker, Colorado, White spent the 2016-17 season at Colorado, where he earned recognition on the all-conference first team in the Pac-12, as well as being named to the all-defensive team and all-tournament team.
White played only one season at Colorado, averaging 18.1 points, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 2016-17, after playing his first three years at Division II University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
When White finished his prep career at Legend High School in Parker, Colorado, the guard received only a junior college scholarship offer in Wyoming and one partial scholarship offer from UCCS.
The Spurs coveted White’s versatility, size and feel for the game, but general manager R.C. Buford declined to designate him as a point guard or a shooting guard. White was also noted for his ability as a decision-maker on the pick-and-roll as well as for his athleticism.
The Spurs worked out White during a pre-draft visit to San Antonio.
White hit on 50.7 percent from the field as a senior at Colorado, knocking down 39.6 percent from beyond the 3-point line. White ranked No. 3 in the Pac-12 in scoring, fifth in free throw percentage (81.3), sixth in assists and seventh in blocks. White and No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz were the only two players to rank in the Pac-12’s top 10 in scoring, assists and blocked shots.
White also became the first Colorado player to produce four or more 30-point games in a career since Chauncey Billups (1995-96).