(670 The Score) In his first season as the Bulls' starting point guard, 21-year-old Coby White's development has come with highs and lows.
The Bulls expected some challenges after increasing White's responsibility about a year-and-a-half after drafting him No. 7 overall in 2019. With that in mind, White has a big believer in Bulls coach Billy Donovan, who admires White's ability to work through struggles and persevere.
"When a guy is 20 years old (White just turned 21 in February) and a full-time point guard in this league, there are going to be some ups and downs," Donovan said on the Mully & Haugh Show on Wednesday morning. "The thing I admire more than anything else about him is when it's not going well for him, he has incredible fight-back ability. I've seen a lot of guys where the game doesn't go well for them individually, and it just doesn't go well for the full 48 minutes.
"This guys fights. He fights to figure it out. He fights to get better. He spends time in the gym. He watches film. And he really works. I think that's a quality that a lot of people maybe can't see. They see maybe other things that are taking place in between the lines, some of the ups and downs. That's going to happen. He's a young player. But you cannot teach his fight-back ability and his ability to really course correct.
"I mean, there's a mental toughness about him that I really love and respect and appreciate. But the thing I have confidence in him is I know he's going to throw everything he has into figuring out his position and getting better at it.
"Is he a complete product at 20 years old? No. Is he going to keep getting better? Absolutely. And the reason he's going to get better is because of who he is as a competitor and a player and a person."
White has started each of the Bulls' 34 games this season after starting just one contest in the 2019-'20 season. He has averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 33.2 minutes per game.
The Bulls (16-18) will host the East-leading 76ers (24-12) at the United Center on Thursday evening to open the second half of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the broadcast can be heard on 670 The Score, the flagship radio station of the Bulls.
