Fresh off an All-Rookie Second-Team selection, Coby White is ready to get back in the gym.
The Chicago Bulls will start group workouts on September 21st at the Advocate Center. To prepare for this, the team began daily testing in an in-market bubble on Monday. Players will reportedly stay at a hotel downtown and be bused back and forth each day to the Advocate Center. Until these group workouts begin next week, each player can continue to practice on an individual basis, which is something White says he’s been doing plenty.
Getting Back to Work and Getting Better
In a zoom conversation with media on Wednesday morning, White said he has been on the practice court five times a week, which … Ah, words you love to hear from a rising star. White also expressed excitement and relief in the upcoming workouts, telling NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson that this will be a great opportunity for the team to build chemistry and, duh, get better.
Coby White: "We're gonna get better from this bubble. We're gonna continue to grind."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 16, 2020
While it remains unclear whether or not the franchise’s new head coach will join them at any time over the next three weeks, any extra time for these guys on the court should be considered exceedingly valuable. After all, the assumed starting lineup for next season – White, LaVine, Porter, Markkanen, and Carter Jr. – clocked ZERO minutes together last season thanks to White’s bench role and several on-and-off injuries to the rest of the starters. As for the four-man combo of White, LaVine, Markkanen, and Carter Jr., they shared the floor for just 125 total minutes, per Basketball-Reference.
What’s Next?
For White, individually, he says his goal is to work on his efficiency and playmaking – arguably the two most important areas for the rook to develop if he wants to become a reliable starting point guard.
Coby White: “Second-Team All Rookie was a blessing and honor to be a part of that. The season was up and down, could have been better. I want to work on my efficiency and as a playmaker on the floor, so that’s what I’m focused on.” pic.twitter.com/uQdGIoa8Xa
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 16, 2020
Fortunately, he should be able to work on both with all of his teammates, as White confirmed that the Bulls have a strong turnout for the voluntary workouts, reportedly stating that “everybody” is in attendance. With no time clock to punch into (lol could you imagine quarantine with Boylen?), I’m sure the players have some newfound optimism around the state of their franchise.
Love New Front Office … and The Old Regime?
The new front office has already garnered plenty of respect from players, and White reiterated his own belief in the new head honchos on Wednesday.
#Bulls’ Coby White: “The new guys in the front office are really great.”
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) September 16, 2020
Make no mistake, though, White isn’t about to badmouth the old regime (as much as some of us may want it). Rookie Daniel Gafford gave a very, uh, iffy review of former head coach Jim Boylen earlier this offseason, but White offered some praise for the team’s old leader, telling reporters he was “kind of” surprised by the Boylen firing and that he appreciated the work he did last season (via Johnson): “Like I said, Jim, I give him all the credit. He was a great coach when he was here. We’re excited to see change. But taking nothing away from him, this season, he helped me out a lot and I can’t thank him enough for that, especially on and off the court.”
Look, White isn’t one to throw anyone under the bus. I respect his professionalism [Whispers to White: Come on, but he totally kinda sucked, right?].
Being Overlooked All Year
Anyway, White will now look toward the 2020-2021 season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, despite his All-Rookie nod. Left out of the Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend and stuck on a team with little national attention, White mentioned that he felt “overlooked” at times during his rookie campaign. We saw what a motivated White could do at the end of last season (*cough* 25 points per game *cough), so I can’t wait to see what he looks like with that fire still lit.
Coby: “I feel like at times this season I was overlooked, but at times I didn’t play up to my own expectations. Not making the Rising Stars game fueled my fire. But the guys who made it deserved to be in the game. I just wanted to get better.” pic.twitter.com/v9mQXvcujI
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 16, 2020