NEWSLETTER
Watching Coby White last season was so much fun. He burst onto the scene in the Bulls’ backcourt and outside of DeMar DeRozan became the best and most consistent player on the team.
So what should our expectations for him be this season?
Can Coby White keep up with and even build upon what he did last year? Is there another jump to be made for the 24-year-old guard? How will the Bulls‘ new-look roster and hopefully an increased role factor in?
Let’s chat about some expectations for Coby White’s 2024-25 season.
Coby White 2023-24 Stats (79 games)
| MIN | PTS | AST | REB | FG% | 3P% | FT | |
| Coby White | 36.5 | 19.1 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 44.7 | 37.6 | 2.8 |
Development isn’t always linear, and Coby White has been a great example of precisely that. The Chicago Bulls’ No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has seen his role change numerous times over his first five years in the league. And this led to a career-worst season during the 2022-23 campaign. Nevertheless, when the opportunity presented itself the following year, White showed that he’s learned from every experience.
The 2023-24 season featured the best basketball of White’s career. He finally started to look like the versatile scoring threat many believed he could be coming out of UNC. No longer relying strictly on his transition speed and spot-up shooting, White’s ball-handling allowed him to tap into a whole new area of his scoring arsenal. He would attack switches with confidence and methodically work his way to the rim in the halfcourt. The three-level scoring ability was on full display, especially down the stretch of games. White showed flashes of being a go-to option at the end of games, finishing with the 12th most points in the clutch last season.
Most important, though, may have been White’s unselfishness. While he showed everyone what he could do as a scorer last season, he was never one to force things. We watched him use his improved ball-handling to also set up his teammates with a career-high 5.1 assists. We also watched him provide a consistent effort on the glass, where he reminded folks of his solid six-foot-five frame. White was constantly making winning plays, and last season was a great sign of the reliable all-around player he can still become.
Coby White On/Off
Coby White finished with a +4.6 on/off differential last season, per Cleaning the Glass. More specifically, the Bulls’ effective field goal percentage saw a 4.0 percent bump when White was on the floor last season, which ranked in the league 96th percentile!
Again, this just speaks to the positive, winning impact White has learned to make on the offensive end. The defense still has a long way to go, but the effort passes the eye test and we’re still seeing him offer enough on offense to offset his deficiencies on that side of the ball.
Thing to be Most Excited About: Scoring Arsenal
The all-time leading bucket-getting in North Carolina high school history, Coby White has long been a scorer at heart. While we’ve watched him improve as a passer and defender, White will always be at his best when he is allowed to focus on finding the bottom of the net. And he should be able to do exactly that this season.
Not only is there a big offensive void to fill with DeMar DeRozan gone, but White showed last season that he deserves to have the ball in his hands. We’ve watched his scoring arsenal become significantly deeper during the 2023-24 campaign, and the main reason for this was his ball-handling. Once relying primarily on his transition speed and 3-point jumper, White can now pick apart defenses in the halfcourt. He has improved tremendously at changing speeds and using his strong upper body to finish through contract.
With building for the future now the priority, White should only continue to have the opportunity to flash his versatile scoring chops this season. I expect some huge performances from White this year.
Thing to be Most Worried About: Regression
Josh Giddey has arrived. Zach LaVine is back. Ayo Dosunmu looks ready to step up. There is no lack of competition in the backcourt for Coby White, and this could lead to some difficulties.
To be sure, all signs point toward White being a major part of the Bulls’ plans. But we can’t deny the fact that last season offered a VERY different situation. White had to be a go-to scorer with LaVine stuck on the bench. He also had to have the ball in his hands without a true point guard on the floor. Even if the Bulls want White to be a crucial part of the offense, he’s going to have to share the ball a lot more. How will he adjust to more off-ball play? Could he have a problem getting into a rhythm on some nights?
This is why I’m very curious to see if White is the player staggered into the second unit. By doing this, Billy Donovan can ensure that White continues to have his fair share of minutes as the primary ball-handler.
