White an anchor amidst sea of changes

Billy White, the long-time versatile veteran, is one of only three Lightning players left from the opening night roster. The former MVP has been a consistent presence — and he’s stepped up his game down the stretch.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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Billy White doesn’t mind if you call him a veteran. In fact, the 36-year-old forward might argue with you that being roster OG is what keeps him young.

“I’m starting to get used to it. Over the last couple years, I’ve noticed I’m the oldest guy around,” White laughed. “I’m liking it. I try to teach these young guys all the knowledge that I have. I’m enjoying it, seeing these new guys come up and play hard. I’m privileged to have a chance to give back to the game that gave to me.”

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Odds are he’s the only name you recognize right now.

The Lightning have churned through nearly every name on its opening day roster. Hope you didn’t buy that souvenir jersey too early, because along with White, only guard Marcus Ottey remains from the team’s 123-119 win in Sudbury on Nov. 23. (Forward Tonzell Handy’s season recently ended with a fractured ankle.)

In their place, Lightning GM Mark Frijia and head coach Jerry Williams have assembled a collection of talented strangers over the last few weeks, often as unfamiliar to coaches and teammates as they are to fans. The shuffle has resulted in the Bolts going full Benjamin Button – de-aging from an average of 30.1 to 28.5 years old from opening day to today.

Yes, you could get the bends from coming up that quickly. That’s why those kinds of changes require at least one point of stability, a role often filled by the team’s veteran (in both age and tenure) presence.

Enter Billy White.

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You hear the term veteran leadership thrown around a lot, but it has no single meaning. Veteran leadership, like any type of leadership, is still up to the individual to lead in their own way. For White, veteran leadership starts within.

“I try to lead by example. I’m not really a vocal person,” he paused – knowing exactly how that phrase would land with those who know him as one of the league’s most, shall we say, outwardly expressive players.

“OK, maybe that’s not always true on the court. I am a little vocal. But when it comes to practice, I’m not always saying you need to do this or that. I practice hard. I play hard. I do my job. I try to do it to the best of my abilities and hope that rubs off on the other guys.”

Yes, he leads by example. But White is also unafraid to make his thoughts known. His style of leadership often plays out on the court, where he is unafraid of getting in the face of a referee, an opponent, or even a teammate. While borne out of a desire to create a better team, a more successful play, a fairer call, that style has bristled some teammates (and occasionally his coach).

(Photo: Jade Sumpton).

It’s a style intended with no malice, White said, only a desire to win.

“That’s the biggest thing for me – bring my energy, bring my passion. I love the game. I love it so much. It has such a special place in my heart. It changed my life. It took me places I never thought I would be ever. I love it.”

White knows that one’s man’s fire to win, however, can be perceived far differently by others. His intent is always to uplift – so all can burn as bright as he likes to.

“I don’t try to put any pressure on them. If they need me, need anything, I am there. I’ve been playing professional basketball for a long time. I’ve been in Canada for seven years, and before that, I played in different places. I just try to teach them all the knowledge I have, talk to them about all the stuff I went through, good or bad. It’s not just basketball. Life experiences, too. I’ve been through a lot; I’m sure everybody has something that they’re going through. You never know what anybody’s going through. So, I just try to listen and give my experience to people.”

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Yes, he is taking a beating out there. Honestly.

Yes, White has a flair for the dramatic when contact is made (and, especially, when it goes unrecognized by the officials). But this is far from some sort of European soccer flop. He is taking a beating out there.

A few broken fingers.

Lots of bruises.

Plenty of sore muscles and slow mornings.

Life as an athlete is a lot different when you wake up in your late-30s rather than your late teens. But White has been fortunate – no major surgeries in his career, and he appears today to be as ready to go as any time in his life.

Not bad for a veteran, eh?

(Photo: Jade Sumpton).

“I like physicality. That’s my thing. I played football back in the day, so I feel like that brings a little bit into how I played. So, it doesn’t bother me at all,” White said.

“I try to tell the refs to let us play a little bit. We’re grown men. This is the top level in Canada. Don’t let it get out of hand, of course, but I feel like the league understands we’re grown men. This is not college. This is not high school. There’s going to be physicality, just like in the NBA. I feel like they’re doing a great job with that.”

Speaking of officials, one might expect White to have some hot takes on officiating. I mean, this is a player with eight technical fouls this year – including two game ejections and a one-game league-mandated suspension for accumulated technicals.

But talk to White – off the court, that is – and he has a clear-eyed view of everyone’s roles.

“Listen, sometimes, I know I can be a little hot headed. But most of the time, it’s cool. Most of the officials, I have nothing but great respect for them. I know their job is tough. I know sometimes their calls can be a little messed up for both teams, but they’re doing the best they can. I just try to talk to them and see what they’re seeing so I don’t commit the same foul over and over.”

Some refs can embrace conversations. Some don’t. Figuring that out, White said, is all part of the game.

“Sometimes I might get carried away. Sometimes I get tossed out of the game or get a technical. It’s part of the game. I’m just emotionally heated about the game, about winning. I will never disrespect officials. I know they got a job, and that’s part of the job. If they don’t like something I say, I understand they’re going to give me a technical or throw me out. But I try not to. I just play the game with a passion.”

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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Even a veteran knows his game is never complete.

“Even though I’m the oldest, I’m never too old to learn new stuff,” White said.

Long known for his ability to drive and attack the basket, creating easy buckets and drawing fouls, White has focused on expanding his range in recent years. He’s worked on his outside shooting more, especially three-pointers.

Today, he doesn’t need to attack the basket every time. (His body thanks him for that break every night.) That added versatility has made him a nightmare matchup that keeps defenders guessing. He’s able to play big, play small, and score from anywhere on the court.

“My dad taught me how to play the game. He knew I was always going to be tall, but he didn’t want me to be a typical four or five playing with my back to the basket. He put the ball in my hands very early and taught me how to dribble, use my size and not just to be a post player. That stuck,” White said.

“All through high school, I wasn’t the tallest on my team. I had two seven-footers on my team. I was a point guard/shooting guard. I’ve kept my dribbling abilities. I feel like that’s the best attribute of my game.”

This season, White is a veteran doing veteran things. He is second on the team in points and rebounds per game, averaging 18.8 and 7.5, respectively. So far in March, however, he has elevated his game – 22 points and 8.3 rebounds across his six games this month. He’s shooting 58.4% from the field during that stretch.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

On Wednesday, he posted a double-double (26 points, 11 rebounds) while shooting an incredible 71.4% from the field in a 117-113 win over the Kokomo Bobkats in London.

For the Bolts, White’s bump has come at the right time, a stabilizing force amid an influx of new talent – many not only new to London, but to the league.

Watching this happen around him, you can forgive White for being as confused as the fans sometimes. Even frustrated. Yet, he tries to focus on the value that his mentors brought, and channel that into his day-to-day.

Growing up in the United States shaped White’s basketball journey. He played four years at San Diego State, where, as an 18-year-old freshman, he was surrounded by older teammates like Lorrenzo Wade, a Las Vegas native he looked up to. His summers were spent competing against L.A. standouts like James Harden and DeMar DeRozan. White remains close with Kawhi Leonard, his college teammate for two years, often calling to pick his brain about the game. Even family members, like his cousin, Ramon White, who played both football and basketball, offered guidance along the way.

“Still today, I try to get advice from everybody, even my old coaches, all the coaches I ever played for in my life. I try to pick their brain,” White said.

“I remember what it was like. I was a little hard around the edges when I was young. If I could take a step back and give my younger self some advice, I would definitely listen. That’s why today, I don’t try to overstep my boundaries with guys, be in their business or anything like that. But if I’m really close to them and I know that I could help, and that my input can be something that they can listen to and use, I do that.”

It's not a one-way relationship, White stressed. Keep in mind he is acting like their big brother – not their grandpa.

“Being around all these guys, they’re keeping me young spirited, keeping me in shape. That motivates me to keep playing basketball. Just seeing these young guys play, me getting out there with them competing, enjoying the game, I feel like that’s the best thing for me.

He continued, “Growing up, I didn’t know anything about overseas basketball. In The States, they always said if you don’t make it to the NBA, it’s all over. But I stuck with it, and I keep finding my passion every year. Being around these young guys keeps me passionate and keeps me going. The game has done so much for me in my life, and I try to show it every single night.”