A comparison to De’Aaron Fox and potential All-Star touting from an NBA insider shows what point guard Coby White could do for the Chicago Bulls.
At this point, there aren’t many options that the Chicago Bulls look to have on the current roster in terms of players that scream consistent All-Star and/or All-NBA potential. That list has to boil down to the likes of center Wendell Carter Jr., shooting guard Zach LaVine, and point guard Coby White. Former Arizona Wildcats power forward Lauri Markkanen still has the possibility of reaching that level at his peak, but it appears that his ceiling is starting to fade heading into his fourth year in the NBA.
Yet, one name sticks out among that list of three current Bulls players as to who could have All-Star potential down the line. Former North Carolina Tar Heel and 6-foot-5 point guard White ended the 2019-20 season prior to the hiatus on a high note. White was named as the most recent Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month (in February) thanks to his scorching hot play in the last month and a half.
In a recent episode of the “Bulls Talk” podcast with K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, Tom Haberstroch gave his thoughts on the potential of White, and how he compares with the likes of the Sacramento Kings young standout point guard De’Aaron Fox. Here’s what he had to say on the matter of White’s All-Star potential in the next few years and the likening to Fox.
"“I’m not so sure if he’s Russell Westbrook-level yet, but I think potential All-Star is what I would say for Coby White. When you have that kind of scoring tact in the league where you just have that instinct, you have the size — and he’s gonna fill out — the speed. He just reminds me a lot of De’Aaron Fox, and he’s not an All-Star yet, but he’s still very young in the league. And when you’re talking about a 19-year-old who’s able to do the things Coby White did, he’s got a very bright future.”"
If White is able to reach the level of play that Fox already has for the Kings, then it should be considered a success for him and the Bulls. Although Fox has yet to get his first All-Star nod, he’s still one of the rising star guards in the Western Conference and averaged more than 20 points per game for the Kings so far this season.
Meanwhile, White averaged 13.2 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, while he played in all 65 games for the Bulls in the rookie season that was. His first ever start came in the final game of the season for the Bulls, in a home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers back on March 10. White was on a torrid scoring pace prior to the hiatus. It’s a shame that his rookie campaign had to come to an end when it did.
Entering his second season in the NBA, it will be worth following what path White takes to. Could he stray down a path similar to that of Luka Doncic or Trae Young? Or will he be more like Collin Sexton with the Cavs?
Hopefully for the Bulls case it’s the former of those two development paths.