Chicago Bulls guard Coby White told NBA reporters that his hip is feeling better after getting hurt against the Indiana Pacers on March 13.
White is on track to face the Houston Rockets on March 21.
“To me, the replay is bad,” White said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “But I don’t think it’s that bad to where everybody was making it seem. It was just an awkward landing and he fell on me.”
White is averaging 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists this season for the Bulls while shooting 45.2% from the field, 38.8% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.
“Overall, I’m feeling pretty good,” White said. “We’ll see how (Thursday) goes. When I wake up, see if anything is sore or if I feel anything. Then we’ll go from there.”
White, who led the NBA in minutes played before the hip injury, knows he got lucky his injury wasn’t more serious.
“They say I dodged a bullet. It could’ve been a lot worse. They said I’m pretty flexible and that’s what helped me in that scenario,” White said. “I’m just glad. I think God was with me at that point and I’m just glad it was nothing serious, nothing more than a strain. I was in pain. But I didn’t feel anything pop.”
Most people around the NBA believe White will win this year’s Most Improved Player of the Year Award. Golden State Warriors veteran Chris Paul told NBA reporter Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic that White “better” win the award.
“He better get it,” Paul said. “He’s not just doing it every now and again. He’s doing it night in and night out. And that’s when you earn that respect around the league. I posted that move he did the other night against Sac. And I think it was cool to see other guys around the league who responded to that.”
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