Chicago Bulls: 3 players who must step up with Kris Dunn out for season

2. Coby White, Point Guard

The former North Carolina Tar Heels rookie point guard Coby White might be the most important player that the Chicago Bulls need to step into the spotlight now. So far this season, White is averaging 11.1 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 37.0 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc. He’s also shooting 74.7 percent from the charity stripe.

Handing over the keys to this team in running the point is not the option that the Bulls should go with in the latter stages of White’s rookie season. But they do need to see how he would do with a greater defensive responsibility when he’s needed to step up and how he could do with a slight spike in playing time.

The Bulls are already giving pretty significant minutes to White off the bench. He has yet to get a single start in the 55 games he’s played in so far this season, but he is playing in just under 25 minutes per game. White ranks seventh on the Bulls in minutes played per game (24.3) and fourth on the team in total minutes (1,337).

White is also sure to pass up power forward Lauri Markkanen soon in total minutes played. Markkanen is currently dealing with a pelvic injury that’s holding him out of the lineup.

What matters most of all in the case of White getting more playing time this year is his Bulls teammates falling like flies around him. If there’s going to be less pressure on the Bulls to make a playoff run, then maybe White can loosen up and start getting in a better shooting rhythm from here on out.