Coby White's work on the defensive end impresses Billy Donovan the most

White's growth on defense has caught the eye of his coach.

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Coby White’s development from being a backup point guard to potentially becoming the player leading the Chicago Bulls into the future has been the franchise’s biggest success story. 

While White’s scoring ability was never questioned, the rest of his game was seen as a work in progress. However, he has put it all together this season, including his play on the defensive end of the floor.

One-dimensional

Coming out of the University of North Carolina, White was pegged to be a shooting guard with an emphasis on shooting. After coming off the bench as a rookie, he was handed the starting point guard position reins in his sophomore year, garnering mixed results as he shot only 41 percent from the field and committed over two turnovers per game.

It was back to the drawing board for White, and last season, he put up solid numbers, showcasing improved skills across the board. He eventually earned the starting point guard slot this season and has not looked back.

‘‘I think what happened early on is that it’s really hard to be a leader when you’re one-dimensional, and he was a one-dimensional player,’’ Donovan said.

Coby White had 30 points tonight. Compare how he used to play to today, and you can see why he’s a Most Improved Player candidate. pic.twitter.com/Xpe6tv0NjL

— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) January 11, 2024

Making winning plays

White is averaging 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season. More than the counting stats, Coby is now making plays that translate to winning, including taking charges.

‘‘Because he’s become so multidimensional, it’s a lot easier leading. When you’re in there

rebounding, and you’re defending — I mean, he never took charges. He’s taking charges now,” Donovan shared.

“When you start doing all those things, you have a much bigger voice where you can start holding other players accountable because you’re doing the things yourself, and you would expect others to do those along with you. All those things, he can be a great piece for us.”

Coby White knocks down the clutch triple 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WdGxbK1Mtp

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 11, 2024

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