Chicago Bulls Takeaways: Coby White confident at Point Guard
Coby White recorded his fifth double-double of the season in the win over the Raptors. The second-year guard finished the game with 17 points and 10 assists while committing just two turnovers.
It was another one of those games that reminds you he is still so young and has so much talent. Although those games have become a bit of a trend since he was reinserted into the starting unit. Coby continued his great play in this one, and the assists with limited turnovers were the best part of his performance.
A postgame quote stood out to me and is worth sharing. Via K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, White had this to say following his impressive performance:
Coby White: "A lotta guys my age, especially being taken out of the starting lineup, you coulda handled that two different ways. You could've pouted and just said, 'Forget it. F it.' Or you coulda just kept playing and get better. And I chose to continue to stay on the grind."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 14, 2021
His performances are one thing, but I think he makes a great point with his comments here. White was a high lottery pick that saw far too little playing time during his rookie season under former head coach Jim Boylen. Under his new coach, he got a demotion to a bench role relatively quickly.
It is safe to say many players his age would not have handled it as he did. Not only did he stay positive, but he also found a way to improve his game for his next opportunity. That opportunity came when LaVine was initially ruled out and White immediately stepped up to the plate in a big way.
In the month of May, Coby is averaging 18.3 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds. Add in his blistering 43.1 percent shooting from behind the arc and it seems as though White is making a statement to the front office and coaching staff about his place on the team moving forward.
There are steps to be taken still. Specifically on the defensive end of the court. White’s attitude and approach throughout what has been a rocky campaign should give fans and his teammate’s reason to believe in him, though.
There is no limit to the improvements he can make during the offseason if he maintains the level head he has shown this year. Rounding out his game as he learns the life of an NBA point guard offers immense potential for the North Carolina product.
As a bonus, he also threw down this dunk that had his Chicago Bulls teammates hyped. You have to love seeing him make a play like this that is only possible if you are confident without hesitation.