The opportunity is definitely there for the Chicago Bulls sensational rookie point guard Coby White to contend for Rookie of the Year with this play.
It’s too early to gauge overwhelmingly who will be the top contenders for the Rookie of the Year honors in the NBA this season. But if we do know one thing, it’s that there’s a handful of first round 2019 NBA Draft picks like Chicago Bulls rookie point guard Coby White that could legitimately contend for the award.
With the New Orleans Pelicans reigning No. 1 overall pick and forward Zion Williamson out at least a few weeks to start the regular season, the door is open for another first-year player to step up and take the lead for these honors. The Pelicans are off to an 0-2 start against two quality teams in the Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors without Zion in the lineup.
White is off to a good start in terms of challenging Zion, and any other potential contenders for the award through two games. The Bulls notched their first win of the 2019-20 regular season on Oct. 25 on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies in thrilling fashion by the final score of 110-102. It took a big breakthrough from White in the second half to push the Bulls past the Grizzlies.
In that win over the Grizzlies, White mustered a solid 25 points and six rebounds. He also had a really nice pass that encompassed one of his two assists. White managed to avoid all turnovers on the night which was huge. He went 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range.
Coby White’s 42 points through 2 games is tied for 2nd-most through a player's first 2 career games in Bulls history, per @ESPNStatsInfo. Luol Deng had 43 and Mitchell Wiggins had 42 in 83-84... MJ had 37. White dropped 25 in Chicago’s 110-102 win vs. Memphis tonight.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) October 26, 2019
This all came after a solid opening night for White in what amounted to a very disappointing 126-125 road loss to the Charlotte Hornets. In that loss on Oct. 23 to the Hornets at the Spectrum Center, White managed 17 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds, while only turning the ball over once.
Moreover, White is getting starter level minutes thus far. He got more than 27 minutes on the floor in the season opener and more than 30 minutes last night against the Grizzlies. He’s also averaging more than 20 points per game through his first two games.
There’s more than enough proof at this point through the first two regular season games and the preseason slate that White can come out of the gates on the right foot. One of the biggest concerns for him coming out of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program was his ability to translate his skill set on both ends of the floor early in his NBA career.
Next up for White and the Bulls is the back end of the first back-to-back games of the regular season, on Oct. 26 at home at the United Center against the Raptors. This will be the home opener for the Bulls too after having to travel on the road to face the Hornets and Grizzlies. Beating the defending NBA Champions would obviously be a nice confidence for head coach Jim Boylen and his Bulls team.