Before the Chicago Bulls enacted sweeping change to their front office staff, Coby White was the last first-round draft pick of the old regime.
White is now in his third professional season, all with the Bulls. After one collegiate season at North Carolina, the Bulls selected the 6-foot-5 shooting guard seventh overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. White, 21, will turn 22 on Feb. 16, 2022, and wears No. 0 for the Bulls.
Here is everything else you need to know about White and his basketball career:
Coby White’s NBA career stats with Bulls
| Season | Team | Min | PTS | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Bulls | 25.8 | 13.2 | 39.4% | 35.4% | 79.1% | 3.5 | 2.7 | 0.8 |
| 2020-21 | Bulls | 31.2 | 15.1 | 41.6% | 35.9% | 90.1% | 4.1 | 4.8 | 0.6 |
White made the NBA's All-Rookie second team for the 2019-20 season, averaging 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point range. He appeared in all 65 of the team's games that season, and made his first NBA start on March 10, 2020, one day before the NBA suspended its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But overall, his rookie year ended on a high note. White averaged 24.7 points and shot 40.7 percent from deep in 10 games between the All-Star break and season's end. In that span, he became the first rookie in Bulls history to post consecutive 30-point games, and the first rookie reserve in NBA history to post three consecutive 30-point games. Earlier that season, he set a Bulls franchise record for 3-pointers made in a quarter with seven in the fourth quarter of a win over the Knicks.
White entered the 2020-21 season the Bulls starting point guard, and went on to start 54 of the 69 games he appeared in at the position. He averaged 15.1 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds, and shot 35.9 percent from 3-point range, but went through some ups and downs. He was moved from the starting lineup to a reserve role in March, but returned to the front line 15 games later, and averaged 17.6 points, 5.9 assists (against just 2.4 turnovers) and shot 40.3 percent from 3-point range in 18 stretch-run contests.
On Jan. 6, 2021, White scored a career-high 36 points in a road loss to the Sacramento Kings. Days later, on Jan. 10, he dished a career-high 13 assists in a road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Then, on Feb. 10, 2021, White and Zach LaVine became the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each make at least eight 3-pointers in a game. The two combined for 76 points and 17 3-pointers (LaVine made nine, White eight) in a home win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
What happened to Coby White’s trademark hair?
White became instantly-recognizable early in his career for his hair-do, which was styled in a voluminous afro when he was drafted.
Late in his rookie year, White switched to dreadlocks, which he maintained throughout his second year. But during the offseason between his second and third season, he got a seismic haircut.
When was Coby White drafted by the Chicago Bulls?
White was selected seventh overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, one pick after the Minnesota Timberwolves took Jarrett Culver and one pick before the Pelicans plucked Jaxson Hayes.
And the Bulls guard didn't wait long to have his first viral moment as an NBA player. White was in the middle of his post-draft press conference when Cam Johnson, a close friend and former North Carolina teammate of White's, was taken 11th overall by the Phoenix Suns. That was much higher than most draft prognosticators pegged Johnson, and White's reaction was priceless.
More on Coby White’s college career at UNC
White averaged 16.1 points and 4.1 assists in his lone season at North Carolina, earning himself All-ACC honors and, eventually, top-seven draft status.
That Tar Heel team finished the 2018-19 season with a 29-7 record and No. 3 ranking in the Associated Press' final poll. White started all 35 games in which he appeared, ranking second on the team in scoring, first in assists and second in steals (1.1 per game).
Though White earned an All-ACC Tournament selection, and North Carolina entered the tournament a No. 2 seed, the Tar Heels lost to third-seeded Duke (the eventual tournament winners) in the semifinals. Then, North Carolina entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, but fell to No. 5 seed Auburn in the Sweet 16.