As the Chicago Bulls have played their way to a middle-of-the-pack record for another season, fans have been begging the front office to rebuild. Yet for the third straight year, the Bulls decided to stand pat and do nothing at the trade deadline, leaving fans to root for the same guys for another straight year. Luckily, Coby White has given them something extra to be excited about.
White has emerged as a legitimate star this season for the Bulls, something fans have been yearning for since he was drafted. With Zach LaVine injured, he’s had a chance to take on a larger role, and he’s been in the Most Improved Player conversation.
However, in Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report’s recent rankings, White fell to second in the MIP race, giving way to Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams.
“White’s strides are real. He looks like a legitimate starter who can impact the game on both ends, which wasn’t the case a year ago,” Hughes wrote. “But much like the leap from 50 wins to 60 wins is tougher in a team context than the climb from 40 to 50, we need to acknowledge that Williams’ jump is at a higher elevation than White’s.”
White has a real shot to win the award, but there are some other guys who could overtake him if he continues to slump.