Chicago Bulls: 3 players who need a big final month

3. Coby White

The discussion surrounding Bulls guard Coby White shouldn’t really be centered around whether he should be in the starting lineup or not (he should be) as much as it should be about his improved play when he’s on the court. The rookie has been electric in spurts all season, but he’s been putting together some eye-popping numbers recently.

For a struggling Chicago Bulls team, they need all the encouragement they can get. Seeing White build upon his strong play down the stretch would certainly be a good start. Consistency has been White’s biggest weakness throughout his first NBA season, flashing signs of being a big-time scorer at times and a streaky shooter struggling to make shots at others. If he can play big the last month with a (hopefully) healthy roster, perhaps the Bulls can get a real glimpse at what the future could hold.

For the season, White is averaging 12.6 points per game on 38.8 percent shooting from the field, including 35.9 from 3-point range. He’s averaging only 2.5 assists per game, so it’s still a bit unclear on whether his future is as a point guard or he’s better suited as a score-first guard.

White didn’t make the All-Star Weekend Rising Stars roster, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be an elite scorer in the Association. In February, the former North Carolina Tar Heel posted 20.1 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent from long range in nine contests, averaging 30.6 minutes per game – all off the bench of course.

We won’t soon forget White’s three-game stretch of scoring 30-plus points either. Those electrifying performances don’t tell the whole story on his rookie season, but at the very least, it’s an indication of the scorer he can become. The young guard plays with so much confidence and swagger, it’s easy to forget that he just recently exited his teenage years.

The best is yet to come for the young guard. Maybe someday he’ll crack the starting lineup.