Coby

Lore & Background

Coby White's basketball journey began at the Greenfield School in Wilson, North Carolina, where he scored 3,573 points over four years, becoming the all-time leading scorer in North Carolina high school basketball history. He was named North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year in both his junior and senior seasons, and earned North Carolina Mr. Basketball as the state's top high school player. White was also awarded the 2018 USA Today's North Carolina Player of the Year and named to the 2018 McDonald's All-American Game alongside fellow UNC signee Nassir Little.

After graduating, he helped lead the United States U18 National team to a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship in Canada as the team's top scorer, earning all-tournament honors. At North Carolina, White passed Michael Jordan on the Tar Heels' all-time freshman scoring list and broke the freshman record for three-pointers with 82. He declared for the 2019 NBA draft after one season, earning All-ACC 2nd Team honors.

Reader's Guide

Coby White is a 6'4" combo guard who played high school basketball at the Greenfield School in Wilson, North Carolina. He scored 3,573 points over his four-year career, becoming the all-time leading scorer in North Carolina high school basketball history. He was named North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year in both his junior and senior seasons, and was named North Carolina Mr. Basketball as the state's top high school player. White was also awarded the 2018 USA Today's North Carolina Player of the Year and named to the 2018 McDonald's All-American Game.

He was nominated to the MaxPreps All-America first team. After graduating, he was named to the United States U18 National team to compete in the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship in Canada, helping lead the team to a gold medal as the team's top scorer and earning all-tournament honors. White signed a National Letter of Intent to play for North Carolina on November 8, 2017. He made his debut against Wofford on November 6, 2018, recording eight points and three assists.

On February 26, 2019, he scored a career-high 34 points in a 93–85 win over Syracuse. On March 5, White passed Michael Jordan in North Carolina's all-time freshman scoring list with 469 points. He broke the North Carolina freshman record for three-pointers with 82. On April 3, 2019, White declared for the 2019 NBA draft after one season, earning All-ACC 2nd Team honors.

The Chicago Bulls drafted him with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He is the first player from North Carolina to be drafted in the first round by the Bulls since Michael Jordan in 1984. White signed with the Bulls on July 1, 2019. He participated in the 2019 NBA Summer League, averaging 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.

On October 23, 2019, White made his NBA debut off the bench in a 126–125 loss to the Charlotte Hornets with 17 points, three rebounds and seven assists, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play in the NBA. On September 15, 2020, White was named to the 2019–20 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. On June 10, 2021, he underwent left shoulder surgery and was ruled out for at least four months. On September 22, the Bulls exercised their fourth-year option on White.

On July 7, 2023, White signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension with the Bulls. On April 23, 2024, White finished second in the race for 2023–24 NBA Most Improved Player, losing to Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey. White made 74 appearances (73 starts) for the Bulls during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He played in 29 games (including 26 starts) for Chicago in the 2025–26 season, recording averages of 18.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.

On February 4, 2026, White and Mike Conley Jr. were traded to the Charlotte Hornets. On July 6, 2026, White re-signed with the Hornets on a three-year, $74 million contract.

Did You Know?

• He became the first rookie in NBA history with consecutive 30-point games off the bench, doing so on February 22 and 23, 2020.
• On November 12, 2019, White made seven 3-pointers total in the game against the New York Knicks, tying the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a single quarter (though not all in the fourth).
• He is the second Bulls player to win Eastern Conference Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks, following Michael Jordan.