Coby White

Central Notes: White, LaVine, Holiday, Strus

January 11th, 2024 at 8:17pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Coby White is in the midst of a career year and a bounce-back season with the Bulls, averaging 18.5 points in 39 games (all starts) after registering 9.7 PPG across 74 games (two starts) in 2022/23. Head coach Billy Donovan spoke highly of White’s season, suggesting the fifth-year guard is on an All-Star trajectory, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley.

“I think Coby going forward, if he can continue to stay on this path, he’ll be a guy that will be considered for an All-Star Game,” Donovan said. “I think he’s got that kind of ability. I think the other thing that’s come out is his leadership. He’s got an ability to lead. And I would consider him still moving into his prime.”

White, who averaged 22.6 points in December, ranks third on the team in scoring, behind six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan and two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. The UNC product isn’t just scoring the ball a lot — he’s doing it at an efficient clip, shooting career highs of 44.9% from the field and 40.2% from deep (7.3 attempts). Additionally, he’s second on the team in assists per game (4.9, a career best).

“I think what happened early on is that it’s really hard to be a leader when you’re one-dimensional, and he was a one-dimensional player,” Donovan said of White early in his career. “Because he’s become so multidimensional, it’s a lot easier leading. When you’re in there rebounding and you’re defending — I mean, he never took charges. He’s taking charges now.

“When you start doing all those things, you have a much bigger voice where you can start holding other players accountable because you’re doing the things yourself and you would expect others to do those along with you. All those things, he can be a great piece for us.”

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LaVine recently returned from a 17-game absence and has played three games, all Bulls victories, since his return. After recording 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in Chicago’s latest win over the Rockets, LaVine spoke about his return to play to reporters. “I’m just happy we’re winning,” LaVine said (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry. “I’m going out there giving guys a little boost, hopefully defensively. And offensively, obviously [on] that side of the floor being a weapon people have to worry about.“
Celtics guard Jrue Holiday is making his return to Fiserv Forum on Thursday where he played in front of Bucks fans as a member of the organization for three seasons. The Bucks won the 2021 title with Holiday and fans showed him love with an ovation on Thursday (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm). However, Holiday was all business when asked about the topic before traveling there. “So to be able to go back to Milwaukee should be fun,” Holiday said via The Athletic’s Jay King (Twitter link). “I was there for three years and we did great things there but I’m on to better things.“
Cavaliers forward Max Strus left Cleveland’s Thursday game against the Nets in the first quarter and did not return with what the team said was right knee soreness, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon (Twitter link). The Cavaliers don’t play again until Monday, so it’s possible Strus is good to go for that game. Sam Merrill started the second half in place of Strus on Thursday and finished with six points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes.

Central Notes: Haliburton, Mathurin, White, LaVine, Vucevic, Lillard

January 10th, 2024 at 6:39pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pacers will be without Tyrese Haliburton for at least two weeks, but the diagnosis of a Grade 1 left hamstring strain was a huge relief for the team, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. In a pregame session with reporters tonight, coach Rick Carlisle said there were concerns that the star guard would be out much longer when he slipped on the court Monday night.

“The news that we got on Tyrese yesterday was the best possible news that we could’ve gotten given what everybody saw,” Carlisle said. “The way he fell, the way his legs contorted and all that.”

Haliburton underwent an MRI on Tuesday that was attended by Carlisle and Haliburton’s agent, Dave Spahn. Carlisle told reporters that hamstring injuries can be tricky and indicated that the length of the guard’s absence will depend on how he responds to treatment. Haliburton will travel with the Pacers while he’s sidelined, Carlisle added, explaining that it’s beneficial to keep him close to the team.

“There are things he can do being with our training staff full time on the road that couldn’t be done here unless we left one of our therapists here and we got a whole team,” Carlisle said. “It’s the best scenario, really, to have him travel and have him work on his body and the situation and just keep going. Twelve days is going to go by fast and we’ll see where we are then. This is a 23-year-old world class athlete.”

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The Pacers should consider moving Bennedict Mathurin into the starting lineup while Haliburton is sidelined, Dopirak contends in a separate story. Although the team could opt to replace him with another point guard such as Andrew Nembhard or T.J. McConnell, Dopirak notes that Mathurin is best equipped to take over Haliburton’s role as a perimeter scorer.
Bulls guard Coby White took a major step forward with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic injured, and he believes can continue to be just as successful now that they’ve returned, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “Nothing’s really changed. Obviously, we’re returning Zach and Vooch. But including those guys, everybody is telling me to keep doing what I’m doing, be myself and keep playing the way I’m playing,” White said. “They told me to stay aggressive, make the right play and be who I am and who I have been. It’s not going to happen like that every night. We have so many talented players on this team. I just want to stay aggressive and in attack mode.”
Minutes restrictions for LaVine and Vucevic have been removed, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said in tonight’s pregame press conference (Twitter link from Johnson).
Bucks guard Damian Lillard will be available for Thursday’s matchup with Boston after missing Tuesday’s game for personal reasons, according to an Associated Press report.

Central Notes: Cunningham, Antetokounmpo, Bulls, White

January 7th, 2024 at 7:02pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Amid this dismal Pistons season, Cade Cunningham has been one of the few bright spots, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press notes.

Cunningham is averaging 23.4 points, 7.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 45.1% overall, 33.3% on threes, and 87% at the free throw line. Cunningham missed most of last season due to shin surgery.

“I’m steadily growing,” Cunningham said. “I feel the growth. Reaching those different markers, having 40-point games, something that I had never done. It gives you something to look at to feel it out. Sometimes that’s all it takes, is just feeling it for the first time. And then you know what it takes.”

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Giannis Antetokounmpo often offers blunt assessments when the Bucks aren’t playing well and Saturday was a case in point. After losing to Houston 112-108, the superstar forward ripped his team’s defensive mindset. “Offense gonna be there some nights and some nights it’s not going to be there. Your defensive effort, though, has got to be there. And defensively I don’t think it was not there. There was no pride,” he said, per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Guys were just driving the ball, straight line drive, getting to the paint, overhelping, shooting threes, offensive rebounds. There was nothing. This was not who we are. “
Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic returned from injuries on Friday. Now, the Bulls hit a soft spot in their schedule and need to take advantage of it, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes. “We’ve had stretches where we’ve played really good as a team when everybody is out there,” guard Alex Caruso said. “There’s no reason with those two guys, who have each been in the league for a decade-plus, we can’t do what we want to do. It’s nothing out of their capabilities.”
Bulls guard Coby White has put himself in the discussion for the Most Improved Player award. White believes the next step in his development is becoming more of an off-the-ball threat, Jim Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. “I need to watch more film on moving without the ball, getting into those open areas,” he said “(Caruso) does that really well and JC (Jevon Carter) does it really well, finding open areas, knowing drives and where to be. I want to play off those closeouts because I feel that’s where I’m most impactful, playing off the closeouts with either catch-and-shoots or driving it and get my play-making involved.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, Antetokounmpo Named Players Of Month

January 4th, 2024 at 3:13pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have been named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for December, according to the NBA (Twitter link).

Gilgeous-Alexander led his team to a 10-3 record during the month while averaging 31.9 points, 6.6 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Antetokounmpo carried the Bucks to an 11-2 mark in December, posting averages of 32.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per night.

Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Kawhi Leonard were the other nominees in the West.

Bam Adebayo, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Donovan Mitchell, Julius Randle, Coby White and Derrick White were the other nominees in the East.

Bulls Notes: DeRozan, White, LaVine

December 31st, 2023 at 3:56pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

With two starters and one reserve sidelined due to long-term injuries, Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan has assumed a bigger responsibility offensively, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Star shooting guard Zach LaVine, center Nikola Vucevic and reserve forward Torrey Craig are all on the shelf, which has compelled DeRozan to play an average of 38.7 minutes per game this month.

DeRozan suggested that his veteran awareness has helped him find moments in a game where he can tactically rest, even when he’s on the hardwood.

“Me just knowing when a TV timeout is coming,” DeRozan said. “Me knowing a foul is going to happen at some point. Me understanding if you need to tie your shoe, it’s a lot of little things that go into it. If you’re not in the penalty, you can take a foul… Playing so long, you kind of understand when a stoppage is going to come and take advantage of those moments. When a timeout comes, sit there until that two minutes, 30 seconds is up. Just take advantage of the little gaps when you can because you know you want to be out there.”

Head coach Billy Donovan acknowledges he is somewhat worried about the mileage he’s putting on the 34-year-old.

“I’m concerned about that,” Donovan said. “I mean, he’s great. I talk to him all the time. But it’s kind of the situation we’ve been in with Torrey out, Vooch out and Zach out. I want to be mindful of that and always talk and communicate with him. He has played a lot of minutes and I probably need to look at that.”

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Bulls point guard Coby White praised his teammates for their resilient resurgence following the team’s nadir thus far this season, a 124-97 blowout loss to the Celtics on November 28, writes Johnson in a separate piece. “At that moment, when adversity hit and we were at our lowest this season, we could’ve all grew apart,” White said. “Instead of doing that, we all came together. I think that contributes to how we played in the month of December.” Chicago has gone 9-5 this month. In December, White is averaging 22.6 PPG on .469/.402/.815 shooting, along with 6.4 RPG and 5.7 APG, across 14 bouts.
Billy Donovan revealed that LaVine, still dealing with right foot inflammation, could participate in contact practice for the Bulls late next week, Johnson writes in an additional article. “If (his recovery) continues to go like it’s going, I think that’s a very, very strong possibility,” Donovan said. After a two-game East Coast road trip, Chicago will return home for a game against the Hornets on Friday. “He has responded well [to treatment],” Donovan added.
In case you missed it, the present trade market for LaVine, a maximum-salaried former All-Star, remains fairly limited.

Bulls Notes: LaVine, Vucevic, White, DeRozan

December 28th, 2023 at 8:58am CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls coach Billy Donovan provided a health update on Zach LaVine after Wednesday’s practice, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. LaVine has been sidelined since November 28 due to inflammation in his right foot, but Donovan said he responded well to recent physical activity, which added “light cutting” on Tuesday to his regimen of shooting and straight-ahead running. The Bulls will continue ramping up LaVine’s workload, but there’s still no target date for him to resume playing.

“Even if he passes that part of it — and I’m not sure how many days of cutting it will be — it’s going to be more loads and more intensity,” Donovan said. “A lot of it for him right now is going to be structured, where it’s ‘cut here and cut here.’ The next step after that would be to have him start randomly cutting and moving without it being a directional workout.”

The Bulls are continuing to search out trade opportunities for LaVine, but his injury has complicated that process, with a report Wednesday indicating that the market is “still barren.” Johnson hears that the front office is prepared for the possibility that it may have to keep LaVine until the offseason and renew trade discussions then. Donovan said LaVine has remained an active part of the organization and has been supporting teammates while he has been injured.

“I think he’s a lot happier now because at least he can get on the court and run and he can do some shooting and work out,” Donovan said. “That’s probably the most frustrating part. These guys are so wired and trained to work out and work on their shooting, work on their game all the time. When that gets taken away from you for a period of time, you want to get back in the gym and start working out. He understands there has to be a process that he has to go through to keep ramping up. But he’s been in good spirits.”

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Donovan told reporters that center Nikola Vucevic, who is sidelined with a groin injury, is “progressing and feels better today than he did yesterday,” Johnson tweets. Donovan confirmed that the team hopes to have Vucevic back within seven to 10 days.
One of the most pleasant surprises of this season has been Coby White‘s development into more of a complete player, Johnson adds in a separate story. The fifth-year guard has been in a shooting slump lately, but he’s finding other ways to contribute. “A couple years ago, I always determined how I played off making or missing shots. I feel like that’s showing how much I’m working on my game. I’m showing I can impact the game without hitting threes,” White said. “I didn’t want to be one looked at just as guy who could get hot. Whether it’s getting downhill, getting to the basket or playmaking, I’m trying to impact the game.”
Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times lays out an argument for why the Bulls should reach a contract extension with DeMar DeRozan, outlining his positive impact on the team’s young talent.

Bulls Notes: Vucevic, Defense, White, LaVine

December 26th, 2023 at 6:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Zach LaVine and Torrey Craig are already sidelined indefinitely by injuries. Bulls starting center Nikola Vucevic will now miss some games due to a strained left groin, coach Billy Donovan told NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson and other media members.

Vučević had appeared in every game so far this season after not missing a single contest in 2022/23. The team is hopeful that his absence is in the range of four-to-10 days.

“A lot of it is going to be how he responds to rehab,” Donovan said. “He obviously was pretty sore after (Saturday’s) game and obviously over Christmas. He came in (Tuesday) for treatment.”

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The Bulls’ defense had improved during their 8-4 stretch, prior to Tuesday’s matchup against the Hawks. During the 12-game span, they had a defensive rating of 113.4, sixth-best in the NBA. Chicago finished fifth in defensive rating last season. “It’s amazing what happens in basketball when you box out, don’t foul, don’t turn the ball over, get back in transition,” guard Alex Caruso said. “You tend to win ballgames.”
Coby White is having a career year across the board and he has become a focal point for opposing defenses. Donovan is impressed with how White is handling the added attention, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times writes. “He’s been guarded by a lot of different really good defenders, but I think the one thing that Coby has been able to do besides the scoring piece is he’s been able to play for his teammates, getting into the paint, doing other things, and maybe figuring out how he’s being guarded, how the game is going, and where he can kind of inject himself,” Donovan said.
As for LaVine, Donovan said he’s started “light cutting” as of Tuesday, Johnson tweets. Thursday marks three weeks of the estimated three-to-four week timeline until he’s re-evaluated. He’s dealing with inflammation in his right foot.

Bulls Notes: Hot Streak, LaVine, White, Terry, Phillips

December 21st, 2023 at 9:05am CST by Arthur Hill

There are no more calls to break up the Bulls, who improved to 7-3 in their last 10 games by beating the Lakers on Wednesday night, writes Jon Greenberg of The Athletic. Chicago has moved back into the race for a play-in spot with its recent hot streak after stumbling out of the gate with a 5-14 start.

The improvement coincides with the foot inflammation that knocked Zach LaVine out of the lineup, although no one connected with the team wants to say that directly. As Greenberg notes, there are several reasons for the success, such as DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic serving as the foundation of the offense, Alex Caruso becoming team MVP with his all-around play, and Coby White emerging as the star point guard the organization has been lacking since Lonzo Ball‘s injury.

L.A. is considered one of the prime landing spots for LaVine, and Greenberg suggests both teams might benefit from a trade. However, coach Billy Donovan dismissed the idea that the Bulls are better without LaVine and said he still has a role on the team.

“I think the biggest thing for us collectively is we get down the floor and flatten the defense out with everybody,” Donovan said. “I think that’s one of the things we’ve been preaching all along. I think Zach can play any style. For us, with him coming back in, I think he fits into how we’re trying to play.”

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With White shooting a career-high 42.6% from long distance this season, Caruso is campaigning for him to be invited to the three-point contest at All-Star Weekend, adds Greenberg, who states that White’s recent play may put him in the All-Star conversation as well. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t like all the attention,” White said. “And that’s probably part of the reason why (Caruso) did it. Because he knows it makes me kind of uncomfortable.”
The Bulls’ success is a result of playing at a faster tempo, says K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Whether it’s related to LaVine’s absence or not, the players have been more aggressive about pushing the ball upcourt over their last 10 games and creating more scoring opportunities in transition. “We’re all super unselfish guys. I feel like the ball is moving at a high rate,” White said. “The main thing we’ve been doing these last however many games is just playing a lot faster. Even on made baskets, we’re getting the ball out quick and trying to get up the floor, making us hard to guard so we can play less in the halfcourt.”
Donovan expects Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips to have increased roles in the wake of Torrey Craig‘s plantar fascia injury, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Terry has been the main beneficiary so far, playing 21 minutes against the Lakers.

Bulls Notes: Locker Room Vibe, Williams, White, LaVine

December 19th, 2023 at 9:06pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Bulls have gone 6-3 in their last nine games, including an impressive victory over Philadelphia on Monday, and the vibe around the team has changed dramatically since its 5-14 start, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes.

“Our energy has been different,” center Nikola Vucevic said. “We’re playing with a much more aggressive mindset at both ends. We’re playing for each other, sharing the ball, playing at a faster pace. That has brought out the best in everybody. We’ve been enjoying playing. Each night it’s a different guy stepping up. All of us are supporting each other. You can just feel that.”

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Patrick Williams has shown improvement during the recent stretch, Johnson notes, including a 25-point, seven-rebound, four-assist performance against Miami on Saturday. However, the Bulls’ staff is still looking for more consistency from Williams, who is headed to restricted free agency after the season. “He’s obviously had some great moments. I think it all starts with the force he plays with. And there’s so much he can get into the game on a nightly basis whether he’s making or missing shots,” coach Billy Donovan said. “For him, the offensive rebounding, running the floor, attacking the basket, deflections defensively, the consistency of that is what’s important. He’s capable.”
Coby White, a lottery pick in 2019, has finally established himself as a starter this season, averaging career highs in points (17.5) and assists (4.9) per game. He says he got through rough patches during his career via his work ethic. “I wouldn’t ever say I had a low point. I would say I had points where I thought I was better than how I was playing,” he told Johnson. “But I didn’t look at it as low points because the one thing that’s been consistent in my life is every time adversity hits, I just always tell myself I’m going to get through it by working. I’m the type of dude where if things aren’t going my way, I just go to the gym and work on it constantly. That makes me feel better and doesn’t allow me to get to any low points.”
Zach LaVine remains sidelined by inflammation in his right foot but he’s a steady presence around the team, according to Johnson. LaVine, the subject of trade rumors since early in the season, traveled with the team on its three-game road swing and has been in good spirits. He’s also been talking with Donovan on a daily basis. “He really, really misses the game,” Donovan said. “The other thing is he has really been great on the bench, in the locker room pulling for those guys. Whenever he’s able to get back with us, he’s always been a good team guy.”
Torrey Craig will be out at least eight weeks due to a foot injury. Get the details here.

Bulls Notes: Dosunmu, White, DeRozan, Craig, Vucevic

December 18th, 2023 at 6:32pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Young Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu is using the recent growth of fellow Chicago guard Coby White as motivation to hopefully galvanize his own development, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

With Zach LaVine sitting out and White now firmly ensconced as the club’s starting point guard, the fifth-year guard has made the most of his extended opportunity. Since LaVine first sat on November 30, White has been averaging 25.6 PPG on .493/.494/.811 shooting splits, 6.5 APG, 6.3 RPG, and 0.9 SPG. Chicago has gone 5-3 in that span. The team will play tonight against the Sixers, and White is no doubt looking to have another big game.

“It’s motivation because I understand what he went through his second, third, fourth year,” Dosunmu said. “Me seeing that front-hand, that gives me motivation to keep going, gives me motivation to rise to the occasion. We push each other to be great. When I see him doing what he’s doing now, it’s nothing but giving me excitement.”

Dosunmu and White both inked new deals over the summer to remain with Chicago. In 25 games per season, the third-year Dosunmu is averaging 7.0 PPG on a .479/.354/.708 slash line, along with 2.0 RPG and 1.9 APG.

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Bulls All-Star small forward DeMar DeRozan is excited for the positive direction his club has taken of late, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. DeRozan particularly remains high on his head coach, Billy Donovan. “I tell a lot of the young players that you don’t really know what you have,” DeRozan said. “To have such a great personable coach, hard-working coach in Billy, don’t ever take that for granted because it’s not always greener on the other side.” It’s encouraging for Bulls fans that DeRozan is this enthused. He’s extension-eligible this season, though if he and Chicago can’t reach an agreement, the 34-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Veteran reserve Chicago forward Torrey Craig is missing tonight’s road contest against the Sixers with a sore right heel, per Johnson (Twitter link). Donovan has indicated that Bulls medical staffers will examine the heel when the team returns home.
Recently extended Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has also improved of late with LaVine out, but Cowley writes in another piece that the team could begin to look quite different after January 15, when several players inked to offseason deals will become trade-eligible. That is a fact of which Vucevic is keenly aware. At 10-17, the club is currently out of the play-in picture. “We’ve got to start doing this,” Vucevic said. “The last few weeks, yes, it feels like we’re back on track for something positive, but it has to continue. We know we have possibly a limited time, but we’re aware of it. Maybe that awareness is what’s been changing things, too.’’

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