The Chicago Bulls won their third straight game on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets on the road by a score of 131-117. The victory places the team just half a game behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, as their record now stands at 36-42. Chicago started slow this season and looked lottery-bound in what will be an exciting draft class, but things have taken a turn over the past month or so.
The Bulls are locked into the play-in tournament for the third consecutive season, and their backcourt has been a major story down the stretch. Each member should be due for a massive payday this summer, and it will be up to Chicago’s front office to act accordingly.
Josh Giddey has played himself into being a franchise point guard for the Bulls after he was acquired over the summer in exchange for Alex Caruso. The 2021 first-round draft choice is averaging 14.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game on 46.1% shooting from the field in his first season as a Bull. Giddey has been fantastic all season at creating opportunities for himself and those around him.
Coby White continues to score at will, and he has taken massive strides in his game over the past few seasons. He broke his own single-season franchise record for three-pointers made in a year in Sunday’s victory and also added on to some more scoring accolades as the play-in tournament is fast approaching.
Chicago Bulls’ guard Coby White has six 35-point games this season
White has six 35-point games this season, more than he had combined in his first five NBA seasons (four). The former North Carolina Tar Heel posted 37 points in the win against Charlotte on 12-16 shooting from the field and 6-8 from beyond the arc. White is also taking advantage of the chances he is getting at the free-throw line, as he has missed only one toss in the three games that the Bulls have played in April.
White’s best game of the season came against the Orlando Magic on March 6. The road battle featured the former first-round pick dropping 44 points on 16-28 shooting from the field. White knocked down seven of his 15 three-point attempts in that game and was 5-6 at the free-throw line.
Coby White has nine 30-point games this year for the Chicago Bulls
Along with having six 35-point games this year, he has nine games with at least 30 points. Sunday marked the second straight 30-point game he has posted, as he put up 31 points in Friday’s 118-113 win at home against Portland.
The beginning of White’s tenure in Chicago saw him go back and forth between the starting lineup and the bench frequently. Since being given the keys to the offense, his scoring numbers have consistently gone up over the past few seasons. The organization has White on a bargain right now as the three-year extension he inked two summers ago has him being paid $12 million per season.
The Bulls’ front office will need to open up their wallets after White’s play the last two seasons has warranted another extension. If the franchise wants to do this rebuild correctly, it should start with White and Giddey being around for the long haul.
