Billy Donovan says Coby White must consider training differently this summer

"I think for Coby, it’s been an eye-opening experience in a lot of ways."

© David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Coby White made no excuses when he went through a shooting slump in late February. He averaged only 13 points per game on 14 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Although the media constantly grilled him about whether his heavy minutes and offensive load contributed to his struggles, White refused to blame these as the main factor.

Coby may never admit it, but going from a reserve who played 23 minutes a night last season to a starter who is second in the NBA in total minutes this year has surely taken a toll on him. With his status as a bona fide rising star in the league, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said White must consider training differently this summer.

An eye-opening season

White ranks second only to teammate DeMar DeRozan in the NBA for total minutes played at 2,424; that’s a lot of minutes for a guard whose previous career-high in minutes played per game was 31 back in 2021. Fortunately, Donovan said White has a remarkable threshold for pain and fatigue, but that also means he must take extra care of his body this offseason.

"I think for Coby, it's been really an eye-opening experience in a lot of ways. He has an incredible threshold to fight through things. Whether it's physical or mental things, he has a lot of resilience,” Donovan said.

Although White knew he would be the starting point guard this season, he couldn’t have imagined the responsibility that the season would place on his shoulders after Zach LaVine was sidelined for the entire December before being ruled out for the rest of the season in January.

“But coming into the season, with what his role was the previous year, I don't know if he would've anticipated the number of minutes that he has gotten this year,” Donovan added.

Peep the SHOT 🥶@CobyWhite | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/St6vLFpMWz

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 9, 2024

May have to make adjustments

Elite players not only train hard in the offseason, but they also train smart. Aware of the physical and mental demands of the NBA, these players prioritize taking care of their bodies and finding ways to improve their skills, even during the offseason. It’s an approach White may have to consider embracing.

“I do think with what he has gone through this year, it will probably open up his mind to even train maybe differently this summer. That's part of his evolution as a player. Those elite players, they have to do that night in and night out on both ends of the floor,” Donovan added.

“When you go through it like he has, I’m sure he's looking at his summer and saying, ‘Wow, where I’m at now, what would I have done differently, and how do I actually get better through this?’ I think he’ll actually learn from it,” Donovan remarked.

COBY WHITE BACK-TO-BACK THREES TO END THE QUARTER 🔥

He's got 11 points and is 4-of-4 from the field, 3-of-3 3PTpic.twitter.com/86o0zhpy9l

— Bulls Nation (@BullsNationCP) March 7, 2024

Coby White avoids severe injury, diagnosed with a mild hip strain