Coby White is no stranger to the grind. It’s a word he’s lived by, repeated like scripture since he first picked up a basketball. The Chicago Bulls guard has always been electric—quick off the dribble, smooth from deep, a blur in transition. But this season, something changed. Not just the numbers, which have climbed steadily upward, or his role, which has become more central and more essential to the Bulls’ identity. What changed, more than anything, is how White carries himself—more calm, more confident, more composed. And when asked what’s made the difference, White doesn’t hesitate.
“Faith,” he says, leaning forward slightly, his voice earnest. “And honestly? Just being stubborn. I wasn’t going to give up on myself.”
The sixth-year pro has always had flashes. The kind that get you up off your couch, make you believe he could be a star. But the consistency wasn’t there—not in the early years. Rotating roles, shifting systems, nagging injuries. There were moments when the expectations placed on him as a lottery pick seemed to weigh him down more than lift him up. Yet here he is, in the spring of 2025, having just finished the best season of his career, emerging as not just a reliable starter but a cornerstone.
White averaged career highs in nearly every major statistical category: points, assists, rebounds, field goal percentage, and three-point shooting. But beyond the box score, the intangibles have stood out. His decision-making in crunch time. His willingness to take responsibility. His resilience through adversity. And at the heart of it, he says, is a belief in something bigger than himself.
“I don’t think I could have gotten here without God,” White says. “There were a lot of nights where I was doubting, where I was frustrated. When you’re working and you don’t see the results right away, it’s easy to start wondering if it’s all worth it. But I prayed. I stayed grounded. And eventually, the tide started turning.”
Faith has always been a part of White’s journey. Raised in North Carolina, he grew up in a tight-knit family, one shaped by both love and loss. His father, Donald, passed away from liver cancer when Coby was just 17—a loss that shook him deeply and redirected his purpose. Basketball became not just a sport, but a sanctuary. And faith became the anchor he clung to when the world felt like it was slipping out from under him.
“I carry my dad with me every day,” he says. “I talk to him when I’m alone, before games, after games. He’s a big part of why I kept going. He always believed in me. And when I think about quitting or being content, I just hear his voice telling me, ‘Keep pushing.’”
That internal drive—fueled by memory, by belief, by the unshakeable will to prove himself—has turned White from a promising young piece into a focal point of the Bulls’ rebuild. Chicago hasn’t had the smoothest ride over the last few seasons. Injuries to key players, midseason trades, missed postseason chances. But through the uncertainty, White has become a beacon of consistency.
He credits head coach Billy Donovan for never giving up on him, even during the rocky stretches. Donovan, who’s known for his player development acumen, has long admired White’s work ethic. But this year, Donovan says, there’s been a clear shift.
“He’s matured in ways that go beyond the game,” Donovan said recently. “His leadership, his communication, his ability to stay even-keeled—it’s been incredible. He’s the same Coby in practice as he is when the lights come on. That kind of steadiness is rare.”
White chuckles when told what his coach said.
“I appreciate that,” he says. “But trust me, it wasn’t always like that. I used to get so down on myself. If I had a bad game, I’d let it eat me up for days. Now, I’ve learned to reset. It’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned—how to let go of the bad and keep building.”
That building process hasn’t been easy. When the Bulls drafted him seventh overall in 2019, there were expectations he’d become a franchise point guard. But the road to that destination wasn’t linear. He was benched, repositioned, and at times, overlooked. Other guards came and went. Rumors swirled around potential trades. And still, White stayed the course.
“There were times I felt like an afterthought,” he admits. “It’s hard when you’re drafted high, and people expect you to be great right away. I wasn’t always ready. But I didn’t run from the challenge.”
Instead, he worked. Hard. Behind closed doors, before practices, after games. He focused on his body, his footwork, his handle, his shooting mechanics. He watched film obsessively. And more than anything, he stayed locked in mentally.
“I had to learn how to be my own biggest fan,” White says. “You’re not always going to get that validation from outside. Sometimes, you just have to believe in your potential, even when no one else sees it.”
That internal belief has translated to external impact. This year, White has become a tone-setter on both ends of the floor. His improved defense, once a weak spot, has become a strength. He’s reading passing lanes, staying in front of quicker guards, using his length more effectively. Offensively, his shot selection has become sharper. He’s orchestrating with more poise, finding teammates in stride, and recognizing when to attack versus when to facilitate.
Teammates have taken notice.
“Coby’s grown up right in front of us,” says Bulls center Nikola Vučević. “He’s always been talented. But now he’s leading. He’s controlling the game. It’s been amazing to watch.”
White says the respect from his teammates means everything. Especially considering how much he’s had to earn it.
“You don’t just walk into a locker room and have people follow you,” he says. “You have to show them. You have to show up every day, take criticism, stay humble, and lead by example. I’m still learning, but I take pride in that.”
For all the strides he’s made, White is the first to say the work is far from over. He still wants to improve his consistency in the mid-range. He wants to be even more vocal defensively. And most of all, he wants to win.
“I’m not satisfied,” he says. “We didn’t get where we wanted to go this year. But I think we’re laying the foundation. We’ve got a young core, we’ve got guys who care. We just need to keep taking steps.”
When asked if he sees himself as the future face of the franchise, White pauses.
“I don’t really think about it like that,” he says. “I just want to be the best version of myself. Whatever role that means—whether I’m leading, supporting, scoring, defending—I just want to help this team win. That’s all that matters.”
But the fans have started to take notice. Once divided on his long-term fit, the United Center crowd now roars for him on every clutch bucket, every steal, every pump of the fist. Social media buzzes with praise. Kids wear his jersey in the stands. There’s a sense that Coby White has arrived.
Still, he keeps things in perspective.
“The praise is cool,” he says. “But it doesn’t change how I approach things. I’ve seen how fast things can flip in this league. One bad month, and people are back to doubting. That’s why I stay grounded.”
He pauses, then adds, “That’s where my faith really helps. It reminds me that my worth isn’t tied to what people say or what I do on the court. I’m loved regardless. That frees me up to just go out and play.”
That freedom, that clarity, is what’s powered his breakout season. And it’s what he hopes will power the Bulls into the future. With the right pieces around him, White believes Chicago can return to contender status.
“We’ve got work to do, for sure,” he says. “But I’m excited. I love this city. I love playing here. I want to build something special.”
And if this season is any indication, Coby White is well on his way.
It’s been a season of redemption, of affirmation, of quiet evolution. But at its core, it’s a season defined by two simple truths: an unshakable faith, and a relentless, beautiful kind of stubbornness.
“I wasn’t supposed to be here, man,” White says with a smile. “But I kept believing. I kept pushing. And I’m not done yet.”