After putting up a dud of a performance in the season opener, Coby White bounced back in a big way against the Milwaukee Bucks. How big? Well, no player in Bulls franchise history has ever put up the stat line that White did Friday night. Not Michael Jordan, not Scottie Pippen, not Derrick Rose, not Jimmy Butler. No one. For such a storied franchise, with so many iconic players and moments, it’s truly a special accomplishment for White to deliver a performance that places him in the history books alongside some of the aforementioned Bulls legends.
White’s performance Friday night against the Bucks serves as a reminder that while the Bulls may be in for a long season, there are still worthwhile moments worth celebrating. By being the first Bulls player to record 35+ points, six+ rebounds, five+ assists, four+ steals, and 7+ threes, White is continuing to prove that he is more than capable of being the focal point of the Bulls’ offense.
Per Bulls PR, Coby White is the first player in franchise history to log at least 35 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 7 threes.
(h/t @bball_ref) https://t.co/MKHCstUBdP
— Drew Stevens (@Drew_H_Stevens) October 26, 2024
Coby White Delivers Never Before Seen Stat Line for the Franchise
Analysis of Coby White’s Performance
Taking full advantage of the less-than-stout defense of Damian Lillard, Coby White showed all facets of his offensive game against the Bucks. White stepped up and hit threes with regularity and confidence, both off the catch and off the dribble. He got downhill and penetrated the paint with both his quickness and toughness. Additionally, White routinely used his size to rise up and shoot over Bucks defenders—oftentimes, players who failed to even get a hand up in time.
White is an offensive hub. He can create for himself as well as for others, and he’s got just about every move there is in his bag. When White’s shots are falling—which they were against the Bucks—he looks like an All-Star. However, consistency is one aspect of White’s game that could still use some improvement. On nights in which White’s shot is not stuck on automatic, he can seem to float or fade from the game at times. All that is to say, White is still one of the leading reasons why the Bulls are capable of beating just about anyone on any given night. The 2024-2025 Bulls are all-caps FRISKY, and the Bucks found that out firsthand. Regardless of White’s offensive wizardry, the Bulls remain a clear tier or two below most Eastern Conference playoff contenders from a sheer talent perspective.
Coby White’s Ceiling
Time will tell what Coby White’s ceiling truly is. He hasn’t yet earned an All-Star nod, but it feels increasingly likely that that will change within the next year or two. If White does find his way onto an All-Star team, does he have the consistency and drive to stack up All-Star selections? That remains to be seen.
While All-Star selections certainly appear to be within grasp for White, All-NBA nods feel a bit distant. White remains a slightly inefficient scorer and largely a non-factor on defense. The overall trajectory of White’s development is most certainly still pointing sharply upwards. Simultaneously, however, it also feels as though his player profile is fairly defined.
It is worth mentioning that White has played alongside fellow three-level scorer Zach LaVine for the entirety of his career. Given that it’s likely only a matter of time until Zach LaVine finds his way out of Chicago, White could enter an entirely new stage of development. But of course, this all remains hypothetical. For now, Coby White remains a dynamic and explosive offensive weapon who is more than likely best suited as a playoff team’s second or third option.
