Chicago Bulls: Projecting the regular season 15-man rotation

Projecting Chicago Bulls rotation for regular season

Starting point guard: Coby White

It does seem like it’s set in stone that the Bulls go with the former Tar Heels floor general and the 6-foot-5 20-year-old White as their starting point guard at the outset of this season. White started at the one in each of the Bulls four preseason games. He was up and down for the Bulls in those four preseason games, but mostly showed promising signs that should inspire confidence for where his game is headed this season.

Although poor play could likely result in Donovan moving someone like Sato back into the starting point guard role. White could get a long leash this season, as he is one of the faces of this rebuild. He might also have the most star potential of anyone on this team, depending on how he’s able to parlay the momentum he built up down the stretch in his rookie campaign.

During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, White played in all 65 games as a rookie (starting in just the final one of them). And he averaged 13.2 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks. White shot 39.4 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 79.1 percent from the free-throw line.

Last season, White played in just shy of 26 minutes per game. He should see that number rise to at least 28 or 30 minutes on the floor per game in his second year in the NBA.

Basketball-Reference projects White to average 18.9 points per 36 minutes, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.2 blocks, during the 2020-21 season. And he’s projected to shoot 41.4 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 79.9 percent from the free-throw line.