The process for the Chicago Bulls to get third-year former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White from his shoulder injury and procedure was going to be a patient one heading into Training Camp and the preseason. While it’s still unclear if White will be back for the regular season opener later this month, the Bulls should prepare to not have him in the mix for at least the first few games.
It does sound like White’s recovery is going well so far. And that is a great sign for the Bulls, roughly three weeks from the start of the regular season slate. White is definitely going to be the offensive spark plug off the bench for head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls this coming season.
A report on the Twitter timeline of K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago earlier in the week detailed that White is coming along nicely in his rehab. But he did mention that he still “struggles with the left-handed overhead shots” and that he “still needs to strengthen shoulder”.
Chicago Bulls looking to get a healthy Coby White back in the next few weeks
Coby White said he’s able to do “pretty much everything on the basketball court” but struggles with left-handed overhead shots. Still needs to strengthen shoulder.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 28, 2021
White does like to drive to the hoop with both hands, so it is significant that he strengthens that shoulder back up ahead of the start of the regular season. That type of versatility and quickness that White brings to the table off-the-dribble and in transition is part of what makes him such a potent scorer.
If White is absent for any stretch of time during the regular season it will put more emphasis on the production of younger guards like Devon Dotson and rookie Ayo Dosunmu. It will also give more playing time and offensive responsibility to the likes of Alex Caruso and Javonte Green.
As really the last remaining piece of the Bulls prior young core, before the days of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley as the lead voices in the front office, White is in an interesting spot heading into the season. His volume-scoring ability should still hold a key role for the Bulls this coming season.