White suffered a back injury on Thursday prior to practice and could sit on Saturday as a result.
Chicago Bulls rookie Coby White is questionable to play Saturday night against the New York Knicks, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
The first-round pick sat out of practice on Thursday after suffering a back injury beforehand. Bulls head coach Jim Boylen did not have an update on White after practice and it appears as though he could sit out Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
Should White sit, the injury comes at an inopportune time for the rookie.
White has been on a tear after recording 101 total points over his last three outings, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to score 30 points in three straight games as a reserve. He joined Michael Jordan as the only two rookies in team history to have consecutive 30-point games.
Bulls list Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr. and Denzel Valentine all as questionable vs. Knicks.
Despite being listed as questionable for the matchup on Saturday, the injury to White doesn’t appear to be too serious. Given his recent hot streak, White will likely want to try to play, though an official update on his status likely won’t come until closer to game time.
The injury comes just as White had been on a tear with the Bulls, totaling 101 points over his last three outings.
Chicago Bulls rookie Coby White did not practice on Thursday after suffering a back injury beforehand, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Bulls head coach Jim Boylen did not have an update after practice and was unsure of his status moving forward. The Bulls don’t play again until Saturday, meaning an update likely won’t come until then.
The injury to White comes just as the guard started to heat up.
White has recorded 101 total points over his last three outings, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to score at least 30 points in three consecutive games off of the bench.
Coby White tweaked back before practice and didn’t participate.
White also joined Michael Jordan as the only two rookies in Bulls history to score 30 points in consecutive games as Jordan accomplished the feat eight different times during his rookie season.
In 59 games played, White is averaging 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season with the Bulls. He leads all rookies in 3-pointers made with 116.
Rookie Wire takes a look at the top rookies through the latest week of the 2019-20 NBA season.
With the NBA gearing up for the stretch run, several teams will be attempting to position themselves for the postseason and some will be looking toward the future.
The rookies around the league will be looking to finish out the season on a high note as they look ahead to Year 2 in the NBA. Several players are continuing their strong overall play while others are just looking to find some consistency.
No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson has played exceptionally since debuting last month as he has scored at least 20 points in nine consecutive games. As a result of his recent play, Williamson finds himself atop the latest power rankings.
Hunter has turned in arguably his best month of the season in February.
The fourth overall pick is averaging 13.7 points in seven games during the month and is shooting 45.5% (15-of-33) from 3-point range. He is averaging 17 points per game over his last three outings and is coming off of a 22-point performance on Monday. Hunter continues to show off his skillset each night he steps onto the court and has given the team plenty of promise for the future.
Oklahoma City held off a second-half charge led by Zach LaVine and Coby White, who combined for 76 points, to beat Chicago 124-122.
The most clutch team in the league did it again.
The Oklahoma City Thunder held off a fourth-quarter rally by the Chicago Bulls to win 124-122 on Tuesday night, extending their franchise-record road winning streak to nine games.
After OKC took a 72-57 lead into the half, the Bulls outscored Oklahoma City 38-19 in the third quarter, led by Zach LaVine and Coby White.
LaVine finished with a game-high 41 points while White added 35.
The duo had their way with the Thunder defense until the final 90 seconds of the game. Dennis Schroder took a charge against LaVine with OKC leading 115-114. Thirty seconds later Steven Adams blocked Daniel Gafford’s shot to preserve a three-point Thunder lead.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul combined to make seven-of-10 free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the victory.
Oklahoma City had six players in double-digits on Tuesday night, led by Danilo Gallinari, who made 5-of-10 from beyond the arc and outscored the Bulls by himself 14-4 at the start of the game.
Ferguson was also important on the defensive end late in the game, not biting on LaVine’s pump fakes per Horne.
Since Zach LaVine checked back in at 9:01 in the fourth, the defense on him has been much better. Terrance Ferguson is staying down on pump fakes. LaVine 0-of-2.
Lu Dort, who made history with his 15th start – the most by a two-way player since two-way contracts were introduced in 2017, had an off night. He played 21 minutes but did not score, attempting just two shots from the field a game after going a perfect 6-of-6 against the Spurs.
Oklahoma City improves to 36-22 overall and 17-10 on the road.
The Thunder return home to host the Kings on Thursday before heading back out as part of a back-to-back when they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks on Friday.
The Bulls rookie now has the most 30-point games by a rookie this season and they’ve all occurred over his last three performances.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White recorded his third straight 30-point game on Tuesday night as the rookie scored a career-high 35 points in a 124-122 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
White has totaled 101 points over his last three games with the Bulls and now has the most 30-point games this season by a rookie, topping the two by Zion Williamson, Kendrick Nunn and Eric Paschall.
White finished by shooting 13-of-21 from the field in the loss, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range. He also added seven assists, six rebounds and three assists.
White scored 33 points for the second straight game to lead the Bulls to a win over the Wizards.
Coby White said recently that he is looking to gain some consistency over the final few months of the season. The Chicago Bulls rookie may have already found it.
White scored 33 points on Sunday night to lead the Bulls to a 126-117 win over the Washington Wizards. His performance came just one night after scoring a career-high 33 points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns. White is one of seven rookies this season to score at least 30 points in a game.
White joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies in Bulls team history to score at least 30 points in back-to-back games. Jordan accomplished the feat eight different times during the 1984-85 season.
White finished by shooting 11-of-18 from the field in the victory, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. He also added six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block off of the bench.
After an up and down season, White said last week that he hoped to play consistently over the Bulls’ final stretch of the season. With improved play, the rookie can build momentum for next season as he continues his development.
The win on Sunday snapped an eight-game losing streak as the Bulls pulled to within five games of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
After experiencing plenty of ups and downs this season, White looks to finish out his rookie campaign on a high note.
As most rookies adjust to playing in the NBA, the last few months of the season can be the time when they begin to slow down and really face the rigors of playing in the league.
In college basketball, even the most successful teams play fewer than 40 games. An 82-game schedule in the NBA can be even challenging for the most experienced player to navigate through.
Chicago Bulls rookie Coby White is simply just looking to play consistently to finish out his rookie campaign after experiencing plenty of ups and downs this season. In 55 games, White is averaging 11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists while he is shooting 33.8% from 3-point range. His 98 made 3-pointers are third among all rookies.
The seventh overall pick kicked the season off by tallying 42 points in his first two games. He followed that up by totaling just 31 points over his next five outings for the Bulls. His impressive play has been sporadic at times but he has shown some flashes of developing into a player that can contribute each night.
As the Bulls begin their post-All-Star Game stretch, the team will have 27 games left to play. Surprisingly, they are just five games back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, something White is striving for, according to Tony Gill of NBC Sports Chicago.
For me, just to finish the season strong and hopefully, help my team and put us in a position to be in the playoffs. … I think just playing consistently will be big for me. Just being on the floor as a rookie and what not; being able to go out there and contribute to the team. What needs work? I feel like stringing together good games and efficiency from the field needs a little bit of work.
With several teams in the mix for the playoffs in the East, the Bulls will face a tough road ahead if they want to qualify for the postseason. On top of that, the team entered the All-Star break as losers of six straight so they are certainly hoping a few days off can help get things back on track.
The Bulls will begin by hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
With Zion Williamson sidelined, Morant has established himself as the top rookie of the class after his tremendous start.
Memphis Grizzlies first-round pick Ja Morant is the favorite to win the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year award, according to online sportsbook SportsBetting.ag.
With Zion Williamson sidelined this season following knee surgery, Morant has established himself as the top rookie of the class after his tremendous start.
The second overall pick is averaging 19.1 points, 6.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 18 games this season. Morant is leading all rookies in scoring average and assists, while he is fourth in 3-point percentage (43.2) among first-year players to appear in at least 10 games.
While Morant is the favorite now in the updated odds released on Tuesday, Eric Paschall and Kendrick Nunn have gained traction in the race after their strong starts to the season. The two players are second and third in scoring, respectively, among all rookies.
The full odds for the top seven, via SportsBetting:
Ja Morant: +150
Eric Paschall: +500
Kendrick Nunn: +500
Zion Williamson: +500
R.J. Barrett: +600
Rui Hachimura: +1000
Coby White: +1600
As the NBA recently crossed over the quarter mark of the season, the odds will certainly continue to fluctuate as players separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
Rookie Wire takes a look at the top rookies through the sixth week of the 2019-20 NBA season.
With another week in the books, the rooks continue to show out.
From Eric Paschall to Rui Hachimura, the class had a number of outstanding performances and they show no signs of slowing. Players continue to progress in their development and it has made for some entertaining basketball.
Rookie Wire will compile the rankings of the five best players each week based on how they performed on the court. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the top-performing players week to week.
Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 6:
All stats are through games played on Dec. 3
5. Rui Hachimura, Wizards
Stats: 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Rank Last Week: Honorable Mention
Rui Hachimura has seemingly broken out of his recent slump and has done so in a big way. The ninth overall pick is averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and two assists over his last four games, including a career-high 30 points on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. His performance garnered praise from the likes of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard as they believe Hachimura can be one of the best long-term rookies from this draft class.
Herro is still fifth among all rookies in scoring at 14 points per game. He recently drained a career-high five 3-pointers on Friday en route to 19 points against the Golden State Warriors. Herro is just a hair under 40% shooting from beyond the arc, something the Heat will certainly need throughout the season in order to maintain their strong start. The group is coming off of an impressive overtime win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and they appear to be among the best in the Eastern Conference.
Tyler Herro gets to 5 threes for the first time of presumably many times in his career. pic.twitter.com/f2xKWCFTJr
Despite being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, Nunn has struggled as of late. The undrafted guard is averaging 10.5 points over his last four games while he is shooting just 29.3% from the field, including 17.9% (5-of-28) from 3-point range. Nunn has certainly played like one of the top rookies to this point of the season but has gone cold over the past week or so. Given the work he has put in, it seems reasonable to believe he’ll snap out of his slump and return to the player that put up 16.4 points per game in October and November.
With injuries decimating the Warriors, Paschall has been arguably the MVP of the team this season. He has been among the hottest first-year players after averaging 20.8 points over his last four games on 53.8% shooting from the field, including 62.5% (5-of-8) from 3-point range. Paschall has utilized his strength and athleticism to score over defenders and has also used his mid-range shot to add to his array of offensive skills. The injury to Ja Morant could potentially open the door for Paschall in the Rookie of the Year race and he could be the top player to benefit should Morant miss extended time.
Though Morant is considered to be week-to-week with back spasms, the Western Conference Rookie of the Month held onto the top spot–for now. After crashing into a courtside camera operator on Nov. 25, Morant played in the next two games for the Grizzlies before aggravating his back injury on Friday against the Utah Jazz. Morant still put up 15.5 points, 7.5 assists, four rebounds and 2.5 steals in two games while dealing with a sore back. The Grizzlies are certainly going to be cautious with his injury so his status moving forward will be worth monitoring.
Ja Morant gets the steal, hits Lou Williams with a behind the back move & scores! pic.twitter.com/oaBAzEvx1E
Barrett appeared to be back on track after recording at least 16 points in three straight games but followed that up with a two-point performance on Monday in which he missed all nine shot attempts. Even worse than that, the Knicks lost by 44 points to the Milwaukee Bucks. The up-and-down swings will likely stay throughout the season, as is the case with most rookies, but Barrett has at least proven to be entertaining to watch. The same can’t be said for the rest of the team.
After a slow start to the season, Hunter is up to eighth in scoring among rookies. He is coming off of an 18-point performance Monday on his 22nd birthday but suffered a dislocated right index finger and is listed as doubtful to play Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. In any case, the injury doesn’t sound too severe so he may not miss much time, if any at all.
Clarke has been among the most efficient players in the league this season and has emerged as a key contributor for the Grizzlies. Unfortunately, Clarke is also considered to be week-to-week after aggravating a left oblique injury. Clarke re-injured himself in the first half on Monday and did not return to the game. While Clarke could miss a few games, he has still been a bright spot this season.
On the Rise:
P.J. Washington, Hornets
After a strong start to the season, Washington trailed off a bit but has gotten back on track. Over his last four games, Washington is averaging 15.3 points and four rebounds. The Hornets are 6-1 when Washington records at least 15 points.
Darius Garland, Cavaliers
Garland has emerged for the Cavaliers over the past few weeks as he appears to be settling in. Head coach John Beilein believes Garland is beginning to really grasp the offense and that has resulted in improved play from the fifth overall pick.
Rookie Wire took a look at the top rookies through the fifth week of the 2019-20 NBA season.
The 2019 NBA Draft class has continued to impress this season.
The group has produced some fascinating storylines thus far with the emergence of several under-the-radar players while the top players selected are playing as expected.
Rookie Wire will compile the rankings of the five best players each week based on how they performed on the court. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the top-performing players week to week.
Here are the Rookie Wire Power Rankings for Week 5:
Herro returns to the rankings for the first time since Week 1 after showing out recently for the Heat. The 13th overall pick is back up to fifth in scoring among all rookies after recording 18 points in three of his last four games. Herro has proven to be able to get hot this season and is seemingly always a candidate to go off, thus making him one of the top rookies to watch on any given night. His swag, as Jimmy Butler said, is one reason to tune in.
While Ja Morant has captured the bulk of the headlines in Memphis, and rightfully so, Brandon Clarke has also emerged onto the scene. While he is seventh in scoring, Clarke gets it done all over the court and his shot selection has truly been a revelation. He is one of the most efficient players in the league after shooting 63.6% from the field and has developed one of the nicest floaters in the NBA today. An expanded role in the Grizzlies’ system could increase his numbers but he has flourished to this point of the season.
The second-round pick has certainly not played like one this season. Paschall is third in scoring average among rookies but is second in total points scored, trailing Ja Morant by just five. Given the number of injuries to the Warriors, Paschall has emerged as one of the top options on offense and has been a bright spot for the team thus far. He is coming off of his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Nunn is fresh off of one of his most efficient outings of the season on Monday night. The undrafted guard recorded 19 points against the Charlotte Hornets on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Nunn recently told Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype that he believes he can be a future All-Star and his first season with the Heat certainly has the makings of a successful career.
Morant turned in one of his most impressive games of the season on Saturday in a shootout with the Los Angeles Lakers. He recorded 26 points, six assists, five steals and three rebounds in the one-point loss. Morant became the first rookie since John Wall in 2010 to reach those numbers in a game. He followed that performance up with 19 points for his second career double-double on Monday in a game in which he left briefly after taking a scary fall into a courtside camera operator. He would return to the game and appeared to be fine but the Grizzlies certainly caught a break after he wasn’t seriously hurt.
👀 Ja Morant steals the ball, fakes out Kuzma & scores!
Barrett averaged 10.5 points over his last two games after sitting out Sunday due to an illness. He is still fourth in scoring among rookies and will look to get back on track Wednesday on the road against his hometown Toronto Raptors.
Coby White, Bulls: 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists
The boom-or-bust potential with White has been fascinating this season. He recorded a career-high 28 points on Saturday but followed that up with eight points on Monday. If he can gain some consistency this season, White would certainly have a place among the best in the rookie class. He is shooting 43.5% from 3-point range over his last four games.
Hachimura has struggled some over his last four games after shooting 43.6% from the field for the Wizards. Like White, he has also had issues with consistency at times as his playing time has been sporadic. Hachimura has shown flashes this season but, like most rookies, is still learning the ins and outs of the NBA.
On the Rise:
De’Andre Hunter, Hawks:
Suddenly, after a slow start to the season, Hunter has been on a tear recently. He scored the most points among rookies over the past week and is averaging 19.5 points over his last four games. He is shooting 50% from the field and 50% (11-of-22) from beyond the arc in that span.
Ky Bowman, Warriors:
The Warriors’ two-way rookie is averaging 19 points over his last three games, including a career-high 24 points against the Thunder on Monday. He has been on fire from all over the floor and is producing in a pinch for the injury-rattled Warriors.
Shout Out:
Tremont Waters, Celtics
With Kemba Walker out on Monday, the Celtics called up Waters from the G League. The two-way guard may have only scored seven points in his NBA debut but he made quite an impression on the team and it likely won’t be the last time we see Waters with the Celtics.
