Tag: Coby White

Chicago’s Coby White projected to win NBA’s 2024 Most Improved Player award

The folks voting for the NBA’s 2024 Most Improved Player award cut out for them.

With players like Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, and wing Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic all having such good seasons, the folks voting for the NBA’s 2024 Most Improved Player award cut out for them.

But at least for the folks behind the panel at Bleacher Report’s end of season awards projections, when it comes to their pick, it is Chicago Bulls floor general Coby White. “The 24-year-old started 78 games, almost doubling his output of 19.1 points and 5.1 assists, with a jump from 23.4 to 36.5 minutes per game,” writes Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.

“Injuries have Chicago in the play-in, but they wouldn’t be there without White—at what is now a discount price for two more seasons.”

“Maxey may be the favorite to win the award off a tremendous season, but he was already quite good last year,” he adds. ” White’s jump from ‘just a guy’ to starting guard, averaging almost 20 points per game, was more impressive.”

That may be the most concise argument we have seen in favor of a White nod for this award, and while it is close enough that we would not begrudge a Maxey victory, we tend to agree with Pincus on this one.

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Coby White’s career game helps keep Chicago Bulls’ season alive in play-in win vs. Hawks

White had one of his best all-around tilts at the NBA level to date,.

While it is certainly possible that the Chicago Bulls could have come out on top in their 131-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks at United Center this past Wednesday (April 17) without the career game from Bulls guard Coby White, it certainly would not have been as emphatic of a win.

White had one of his best all-around tilts at the NBA level to date, scoring a career-high 42 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals in 43 minutes of floor time. The North Carolina alum shot a sizzling 15-of-21 from the floor overall, 3-of-7 from deep, and a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the charity stripe with no fouls and just 3 turnovers.

“It was a dope moment for that to happen,” said White postgame via the AP. “I’m thankful for the fans. It felt like a playoff vibe. The place was rocking tonight.”

The folks behind the “Bulls Central” YouTube channel took a moment to break down White’s big game in context for what he will need to do to help keep Chicago’s season alive in a recent video. Check it out above!

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Coby White shows love to fans after Bulls’ Play-In win over Hawks

After his monster game in the Play-In Tournament against the Atlanta Hawks, Coby White showed love to the Chicago Bulls fans in attendance.

With their season on the line, the Chicago Bulls welcomed the Atlanta Hawks to United Center for the nine-ten Play-In game. The winner would go on to play the Miami Heat for a chance to make the playoffs and take on the Boston Celtics, while the loser would see their season end in the blink of an eye.

Luckily for the Bulls, Coby White stepped up in a big way. After struggling mightily to end the season after coming back from an injury, White popped off in the Play-In Tournament game, dropping a career-high 42 points against the Hawks and leading the Bulls to a 131-116 victory.

After the game, White showed his appreciation to the fans at United Center for supporting him throughout his huge night. (H/t ESPN)

“It was a dope moment for that to happen,” White said. “I’m thankful for the fans. It felt like a playoff vibe. The place was rocking tonight.”

In addition to his 42 points, White also had nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals. He shot 15-of-21 from the field and 3-of-7 from behind the three-point line.

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Coby White’s big game helps advance Chicago Bulls in NBA Play-in Tournament

Coby White’s 42 points led the Chicago Bulls past the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA play-in game.

Coby White is making one last push for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

On Wednesday night, White led the Chicago Bulls to a 131-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Play-In Tournament. The win advanced the Bulls to Friday’s Play-In final against the Miami Heat with the winner getting No. 1 seed Boston in the first round.

White’s 42 points were a career-high for the former UNC guard who spent one season with the Tar Heels. And technically, a new career high.

Although the points don’t officially count due to NBA rules, it came in a HUGE game for White and the Bulls. White made 15-of-21 from the field and also grabbed 8 rebounds in the win.

After a bit of shaky start to his career with the Bulls the past few seasons, White has really improved this season. He signed a contract last offseason to stay with the Bulls and with the injury to Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball, he got the chance to play more.

And he’s certainly taken advantage of that. Let’s see if White can help get the Bulls to that eighth seed and a date with the Celtics as they travel to Miami on Friday night.

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Bulls’ Coby White shares thoughts on pressure of Play-In Tournament

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White spoke about the pressure of playing in the Play-In Tournament.

The Chicago Bulls began the season in quite a predicament. They started the year 5-14, and it looked as though they could earn themselves a one-way ticket to the NBA Draft Lottery. However, they turned their season around. In spite of injuries to Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams, the Bulls pushed their way back up the East standings.

They weren’t able to get all the way back into the playoffs, but they are in the Play-In Tournament. They’ll need to win two games if they want to make the playoffs, but it all starts with the nine-ten game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Coby White recently discussed the pressure that comes with playing in a win-or-go-home game, noting that he just wants to treat it like any other game. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“I don’t want it to feel different,” he said. “For me, every game this year was important. This is no different.”

The Bulls’ entire season hinges on one game.

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Bulls’ Coby White expresses frustration amid recent struggles

Chicago Bulls star Coby White recently spoke up about his recent struggles.

Ever since his injury against the Indiana Pacers in the middle of March, Coby White hasn’t been the same. The Chicago Bulls guard has been having an amazing season this year. He should be in the running to win the Most Improved Player award. But a hip issue that spawned from a Pascal Siakam block has sent him spiraling into a pit of struggles that he can’t quite find his way out of.

On Friday night, the Bulls lost to the Brooklyn Nets in brutal fashion. The Nets outscored the Bulls by 48 points from behind the three-point line as White continued to struggle with efficiency

After the game, White expressed his frustration with his recent struggles. (H/t Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times)

“[Expletive], I don’t know,’’ White said . ‘‘Just trying to impact it any way I can, not try to force it. I’m just not making the shots I normally make right now.”

If the Bulls want to make any noise in the postseason, they need White to turn it around.

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DeMar DeRozan trys to lift up Coby White amid post-injury struggles

Coby White has been struggling, but DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls are behind him.

In the Chicago Bulls’ overtime win over the Indiana Pacers on March 13, Coby White hit the deck hard after getting blocked by Pascal Siakam. He missed some time but returned to the lineup after dealing with a hip issue. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been the same since coming back to the Bulls lineup.

Since he’s been back after a three-game absence, White has averaged 16.4 points but is shooting just 34.6% from the field and 29.4% from behind the three-point line. As the Bulls get ready for the postseason, they’ll need him to be in top form, so the rest of the regular season needs to be spent trying to get back to normal.

DeMar DeRozan recently provided some words of encouragement for White, noting that the Bulls are sure he’ll be fine. (H/t Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times)

“[White is] going to be fine,” DeRozan said. “It sucks, him going down with an injury. Stuff like that can knock your rhythm off. Playing through stuff, you got to get back comfortable, get the feeling back. It’s going to come, and it’s going to come when we need it the most, and we’re going to ride that wave.”

White is struggling, but he’s going to keep fighting, and the team is behind him.

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Coby White says Bulls are trying not to focus on the Hawks

Coby White said that the Chicago Bulls are trying to not pay attention to their Play-In race with the Atlanta Hawks.

When the season began, it looked as though the Chicago Bulls may be heading on a one-way flight to a top lottery pick. Since then, they’ve turned their season around and now find themselves in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. They’ll almost certainly be playing the Atlanta Hawks in the 9-10 Play-In game. The only question is, who will have home-court advantage?

For a while, it looked like the Bulls would be welcoming the Hawks to the United Center, but Atlanta has gained some ground on them in the standings as of late. Now, it could go either way.

While the Bulls understand what they are playing for in that regard, Coby White recently said that they are trying not to pay attention to it. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“We not really trying to put too much into it,” White said. “We just want to take it one game at a time, get one win at a time, and try not to really look to the future.”

Chicago is only one game up on Atlanta, so as of now, it’s their ninth seed to lose.

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Coby White discusses Nets’ shot-making in tough Bulls loss

After the Chicago Bulls’ Friday night loss, Coby White spoke about the Brooklyn Nets’ shot-making.

The Chicago Bulls traveled to New York on Friday night to take on the Brooklyn Nets, but unfortunately, they couldn’t keep up the momentum they built in their win over the Indiana Pacers. Chicago dropped their game to Brooklyn by a score of 125-108, as they failed to generate the same level of offensive output.

While the Bulls only attempted 30 threes, making nine of them, the Nets took a far different approach. Brooklyn took 44 threes against the Bulls, and they made 25 of them. That marks a 48-point difference between the two teams on three-pointers alone. The Nets were on fire, and at times, it felt as though there was nothing the Bulls could do about it.

After the game, Coby White spoke about the Nets’ shot-making. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“Second half, they made shots, they made tough ones, they made contested ones, they made ones off the dribble,” White said. “It’s hard to beat a team if they’re making 25 3s. They made shots in the second half and some was due to us having our lapses, but I think a lot of it was just that they got hot.”

White ended the game with 18 points, two rebounds, and nine assists while shooting 6-of-16 from the field and 3-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc.

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Coby White falling in Most Improved Player race in recent rankings

In a recent Most Improved Player award rankings, Chicago Bulls guard Coby White dropped into second place.

As the Chicago Bulls have played their way to a middle-of-the-pack record for another season, fans have been begging the front office to rebuild. Yet for the third straight year, the Bulls decided to stand pat and do nothing at the trade deadline, leaving fans to root for the same guys for another straight year. Luckily, Coby White has given them something extra to be excited about.

White has emerged as a legitimate star this season for the Bulls, something fans have been yearning for since he was drafted. With Zach LaVine injured, he’s had a chance to take on a larger role, and he’s been in the Most Improved Player conversation.

However, in Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report’s recent rankings, White fell to second in the MIP race, giving way to Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams.

“White’s strides are real. He looks like a legitimate starter who can impact the game on both ends, which wasn’t the case a year ago,” Hughes wrote. “But much like the leap from 50 wins to 60 wins is tougher in a team context than the climb from 40 to 50, we need to acknowledge that Williams’ jump is at a higher elevation than White’s.”

White has a real shot to win the award, but there are some other guys who could overtake him if he continues to slump.

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