Heading into the season, fans around the league pegged the Chicago Bulls as one of the teams most likely to blow it up. Despite fans begging Chicago to reset the roster over the summer, the Bulls doubled down, adding win-now pieces instead of entering a rebuild. And early on in the year, things were looking rough.
However, the Bulls have now won five games in a row, all without star guard Zach LaVine. And while DeMar DeRozan has been playing fairly well, it’s the performance of another guard that’s stolen the show, as Coby White is slowly becoming the best player on the Bulls.
In fact, some are even questioning whether or not he’s the team’s franchise player.
Coby White is our franchise player lmao
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) December 12, 2023
Over the past two years, White’s role has shrunk as the team has looked to prioritize winning. But now, he’s one of the main reasons they’ve been able to turn things around and win consistently.
Over the past five games, White has averaged 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while shooting 50.0% from the field and 54.2% from behind the three-point line.
Obviously, shooting that well from distance likely isn’t sustainable, but it’s emblematic of how hot White has been as of late. And while his percentages may fall, it’s clear that he’s one of the Bulls’ go-to guys on the offensive end.
At just 23 years old and in his fifth NBA season, White is making a massive leap. Chicago extended him this summer, and with the move, they may have committed to a guy who could help lead this franchise into the future.
