The Chicago Bulls have selected North Carolina point guard Coby White with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Let’s grade the pick.
After a few up and down years at the point guard position, the Chicago Bulls finally have their guy. Coby White will be a Bull, and hopefully for a long, long time.
White was considered by most to be the third best point guard in this draft behind Ja Morant and Darius Garland, but the gap between the top two PGs and White isn’t very large. Don’t be surprised if White ends up being the best point guard from the 2019 NBA Draft class.
Fit wise, Coby is perfect for the Bulls. His 6’5″ frame gives him high defensive upside, which is critical in the backcourt next to a guy like Zach LaVine, who struggles mightily on the defensive end. Coby can also shoot the lights out, which is big-time for a Bulls team that ranked last in 3-point makes per game during the 2018-19 season. He’ll give Chicago an immediate boost on the offensive end, and should provide long-term defensive versatility.
White still needs to work on his passing, decision-making and efficiency, but he doesn’t even turn 20 years old until February. He has plenty of time to improve.
Last season for the Tar Heels, Coby led the charge offensively, averaging over 16 points and four assists per game. I’m expecting more from him next season, though. His game is tailor-made for the NBA’s pace-and-space style and should immediately help push Jim Boylen’s old-school philosophies to the breaking point. Coby loves to push the tempo and pull up from three, two concepts that Boylen isn’t exactly privy to.
If White can develop into an elite pick-and-roll ball handler, which I think he can, the Bulls will be set for a long time. He pairs well with LaVine in the backcourt, and he should make life easier for both Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr.
I have to assume this was an easy choice for the Bulls at No. 7. The only other prospect worthy of looking at when the Bulls were on the clock was Cam Reddish, who is incredibly talented but doesn’t possess the same bulldog mentality that White does. Coby was made for the moment. He won’t shy away from big-pressure situations. He’s cool, calm and collected. In fact, I’m giving him the nickname “Cool Hand Coby.” Let’s get that going, shall we?
White also has the best hair in the draft, which has to mean something, right? I’m pretty sure elite hair makes you an elite player, but I’ll have to do more research on that one.
Bulls Nation was understandably disappointed when the team fell to the seventh pick on lottery night, but they can rest easy now. Coby White was a steal at No. 7.
Oh, and the last Tar Heel the Bulls used a first-round pick on? Michael Jordan. I’d argue that that worked out pretty well for Chicago.
Grade: A+