Big players make big plays in big games. Perhaps one of the most famous quotes regarding elite talent applied to Chicago Bulls guard Coby White on Wednesday night. In the Eastern Conference's 9-10 NBA Play-In Game, White balled out to the tune of 42 points to bury the Atlanta Hawks and extend the Bulls' season.
White wasn't the only Bulls player to have a strong showing on Wednesday. Ayo Dosunmu put up 19 points, DeMar DeRozan scored 22, and Nikola Vucevic posted a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds. However, no player was as clearly dominant as White.
The Most Improved Player candidate racked up his career-high scoring mark on 15-21 shooting. White was 3-7 from beyond the arc and 9-10 from the free-throw line. However, he was most effective in the paint. White used his athleticism to crash the rim, finesse through Hawks defenders, and capitalize consistently.
White didn't stop there; don't forget about his nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Overall, White was a force. From executing sick euro-step maneuvers to putting defenders in a blender with a spin move, No. 0 was clearly No. 1 on the floor.
With his performance, White established himself as a cornerstone of the Bulls franchise. He and Dosunmu continue to show they are incredible young talents worth investing in moving forward. While uncertainty surrounds the futures of DeRozan and Zach LaVine in Chicago, White and Dosunmu are here to stay.
Wednesday marked arguably the Bulls' biggest game in White's young career. When the lights were brightest with everyone watching as the Bulls had a chance to host postseason action in their own building, White came through in memorable fashion. He was efficient, aggressive, and confident — attributes he'd been harnessing throughout the regular season.
As Bulls On Tap contributor Morris Bankston likes to say, "Build the steakhouse," because right now, Coby White is playing on a prime rib type of level.
The Bulls will need White to step up yet again against a shorthanded Miami Heat team on Friday. Jimmy Butler has reportedly sprained his MCL, making him doubtful to suit up for the next Play-In Game. A Bulls' win in South Beach would secure a date with the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but it'll take another strong performance for White for that scenario to come to fruition.
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