National Basketball Association

Roddy White blasts Stevens' hire

Published Jul. 4, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

Sam Gardner

On Wednesday, the Boston Celtics hired 36-year-old Butler University head coach Brad Stevens to be the next coach of the team, and the move, while stunning, was widely accepted by the basketball-watching public.

Even Phil Jackson, the most decorated coach in NBA history, approved:

One person who did not like the Celtics’ decision, however, was Falcons wide receiver and Celtics fan Roddy White, and he took to Twitter — something he does quite often, and quite hilariously — to express his displeasure:

When fans challenged White by pointing out that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, he of two consecutive NBA championships, was only 37 when he was hired as Miami’s head coach, White had this to say:

First of all, whose opinion are you going to put more stock in when it comes to assessing a coach’s qualifications — Roddy White or Phil Jackson?

Secondly, it won’t be Stevens’ fault when the Celtics stink next season, anyway. So when they’re 20 games under .500 next April, White should take to Twitter to blast the lack of talent on the court, not in the coach’s office.

I get it, though. It’s not a fun time to be a Celtics fan right now, and there were other experienced former NBA coaches available to take Doc Rivers’ spot. But that’s no reason to slam the new coach for being young — if Stevens is a “kid” at 36, then what is White at 31? — and dismiss his success on account of the program he came from.

You know what, maybe White should just follow the lead of Butler’s mascot and hit the gym to cool off: