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Coby White says he's far from finished despite raising his stock this season

"It's been a growing process for me. I’m still trying to learn."

Stephen Beslic

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As high as Coby White’s star has risen this season, the 23-year-old guard from Goldsboro, North Carolina, believes he still has a long way to go. With 19.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, White has established himself as a key player for the Chicago Bulls.

But for White, his journey to the NBA has been a process of growth and learning. He understands that there is always room for improvement, and he is committed to constantly evolving as a player.

In a talk with the press after their 129-123 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves—a game where he took over the fourth quarter, scoring 21 of his 33 points in that stretch—White relayed that he’s taking every game as a learning experience to help him become the best version of himself.

Grateful for the opportunity

Whereas White used to be nothing more than an off-the-bench scorer, he has evolved into an all-around playmaker, fully capable of finding open teammates as he is stepping up in big moments. Against the Wolves, he found his three-point shooting stroke in the fourth after a dismal first half that saw him make 1-of-7 from the field.

More than anything, White expressed his gratitude for the trust the coaching staff and his teammates have shown him.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said White.

“It’s still a growing process for me. The best way to go through it is to be in it, and I’m grateful to have the ball in those moments, especially in the fourth quarter. That’s when winning time occurs, so I’m super thankful for that.”

Learning from the vets

An NBA game is a rollercoaster of emotions—momentum swings, hot streaks, cold spells. It takes a strong and resilient mindset to navigate through it all, especially for a young player like White. But he has had the luxury of learning from one of the best in the game—DeMar DeRozan.

“I try to learn from the older guys like Deebo and what’s his mental like and what are his emotions and how is he carrying himself (at those times),” White shared.

“Tonight, I played good in the fourth, but I really didn’t do anything in the overtime. So, for me, just trying to continue to learn and as teams change coverages on me and adapt to how I am playing.”

Coby White is the face of the new core the Chicago Bulls must build around

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Stephen Beslic
STEPHEN BESLIC

Stephen Beslic is a writer on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. Stephen played basketball from the age of 10 and graduated from Faculty of Economic and Business in Zagreb, Croatia, majoring in Marketing.

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