Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons why Coby White is not a star yet

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Coby White, Chicago Bulls (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Chicago Bulls rookie Coby White had a spectacular ending to the season, but can he be a star player in the 2020-21 NBA season?

The Chicago Bulls drafted Coby White with the seventh pick in the most recent NBA draft. In his lone season at UNC, White averaged around 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game on 55.6 true shooting percentage.

There were hopes that White could be a good scorer and shot creator who could play some active and energetic defense along with being decent at everything else in his rookie season. This type of impact was not the case as up until the All-Star Break, White’s impact was extremely minimal and essentially negative for the Bulls.

Before the All-Star Break, White scored 11.1 PPG, but that wasn’t without an abysmal 47.7 true shooting percentage. It seems like he was able to put it all together during the All-Star Break, as Coby White became a different player after the All-Star Break. Post-All-Star Break (the final 10 games of the season), White put up 24.7 PPG on 59.7 true shooting. Amid

this spectacular run, White broke records like most threes in a quarter by a Bulls player (7) and the only player in NBA history to score 33+ points off the bench in consecutive games as a rookie.

Though he was amazing following from February 20th and on, I still have doubts if White is as good as viewed. I expect White to score around 14-16 points per game next season, but I think it will be on below-average efficiency (something like 51-54 TS%).

I will add that I expect 3.5 APG and slightly below-average defense, though I could see big strides coming defensively; he is very active defensively, but his physical tools like his short wingspan will likely hold him back from ever becoming an elite defender.

I can see White as a borderline All-NBA type player and multiple time all-star if he fulfills his potential, but I don’t expect White to be a star in the upcoming season (or anything close) in any way; here are three reasons why.

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