"Without them, I wouldn't be where I'm at" - Coby White on what his teammates have meant to him during his breakout season
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Coby White worked extremely hard—on and off the court—in the offseason to prepare himself for the season's grind, but it has been a total team effort to get him to where he is now.
In his fifth year in the league, White has significantly improved his game. The 23-year-old point guard has become one of the cornerstones for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 18.5 points and 4.9 assists per game. But as much as he credits his hard work, White acknowledges that it takes a village to succeed.
During an interview with The Athletic, White expressed gratitude towards his teammates for their support and guidance throughout the season.
Young clique
White relayed that while the veterans never stopped guiding him, his relationship with his fellow young studs had been especially helpful.
“I feel like the older guys always encourage me, but the young guys, we’re like our own little clan. Just because we’re all so young. It’s, like, me, Ayo (Dosunmu), D.T. (Dalen Terry), Pat (Williams), Terry Taylor, Julian (Phillips), Adama (Sanogo). We all give each other a lot of motivation when we go out there, to just go out there and be ourselves and hoop,” White said.
An NBA season is a marathon where players go through lots of ups and downs. The Bulls' young core has been a critical factor in keeping White and the rest of the team motivated during those tough stretches.
“So we always pick each other up when we’re down. But I feel like everybody, as a whole, just continues to push me to continue to be aggressive. Continue to be who I am, and they all believe in me. That’s why I always give them credit because without them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at,” White continued.
Toughhhhhhhhhhh finish by Coby.@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/impmB9n7Zm
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 14, 2024
Keep on pushing
The Bulls' veterans know they have a diamond in the rough in White, so they continue to push him to reach his full potential. The return of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic from injuries has done little to hinder White’s performances, mainly because the veterans have instilled confidence in him to keep being aggressive on the court.
“Even when those guys, like Vooch (Nikola Vucevic) and Zach (LaVine) came back, they continued to push me by saying, ‘Hey, keep doing your thing.’ Zach said ‘Keep doing your thing,’” White shared.
“When he first came back, the first couple of games, he was just, like, ‘Look, bro, the way you’re playing, in transition, I’m just trying to find you. Run to spots. I’m just trying to keep you in rhythm.’ That was huge for me. For him being an All-Star, being who he is, that’s why I always say he’s a winner. He’s a team player.”
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN...
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) January 11, 2024
COBY WHITE HAS ARRIVED. pic.twitter.com/hO4Jz3vO0U