Coby White wants to run the Bulls show
By Mark Carman
Coby White is all in on running the Chicago Bulls team that makes it back to the playoffs.
Coby White wants to be an NBA point guard. Period.
“I know thats what I want to do. I know thats my goal, I know that is what I am going to achieve,” White told Da Windy City Podcast. “I want to play point guard in the NBA and I feel I have the skills and the tools to be a really good point guard in the NBA as long as I stay humble and I keep grinding.”
White played both the point and the two-guard in his rookie season under former head coach Jim Boylen. Some basketball “experts” believe White is better playing off the ball focusing on being more of a scoring punch. White is using those opinions as motivation.
“Social media is going to be social media,” White said. “Everybody has their opinion. I don’t pay too much attention to it. I’m just going to prove them wrong at the end of the day.”
White knows he needs to get better. Despite averaging a respectable 13.2 ppg in his rookie season he shot a subpar 39%.
“My numbers finishing at the rim have to be better,” White said. “I know I can get to any spot on the court that I want but just finishing around the rim and being more a playmaker. I think that will come with time at the one. Those two things and shooting off the dribble.”
White could also use some help in the form of consistent play around him. Zach LaVine had another All-Star caliber season but Lauri Markkanen had the worst year of his career struggling in Boylen’s system. Markkanen scoring was down 4-points from 18.7 to 14.7 ppg.
“He (Markkanen) is going to get back to it, no doubt,” White said. “I see the work he puts in everyday. Just do my part, just try to encourage him as much as I can and give him the ball. Everyone knows how talented he is and everyone knows the beginning of his career what type of player he was production wise. It’s no doubt in my mind that he can get back to that in a matter of no time.”
White continues to preach patience to Bulls fans who have endured some trying times the last couple of years. White has the words of his college coach at North Carolina ringing in his ears.
“Coach (Roy) Williams used to say Rome wasn’t built in a day,” White said. “It’s a process. This is my first year in the league. This is Wendell’s second year in the league. This was Lauri’s third year in the league. It takes time, it’s not something that happens over night. This offseason especially this bubble is going to be huge for us.”
Meanwhile, the Bulls coaching search continues. Expect White to sit down with whoever the hire is and express his strong desire to be the starting point guard.
Coby White spoke on behalf of Zenni, who is donating Zenni Blokz to students enrolled in the Chicago Park District and Eastern Wayne Middle School in North Carolina.