Tar Heels in NBA: White goes off for 35 points in Bulls’ win at Milwaukee

By R.L. Bynum

If there were any doubts that Coby White is an integral part of the new-look Chicago Bulls, he shot them down on Friday night.

After the Bulls dealt six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan in the offseason, White and their perimeter game were expected to be a big part of their success. All of that worked well at Milwaukee as White scored more than a point per minute, with 35 points and seven of the Bulls’ 21 3-pointers in 34 minutes, 22 seconds of the Bulls’ 133–122 victory.

White was 12 of 20 from the floor, 7 of 13 from 3-point range and made all four free-throw attempts. He collected six rebounds and five assists and tied his career high with four steals (fourth time) while putting up a team-high +16.

“We’re trying to build that identity of playing fast and shooting more 3s, but also not just jacking them up,” said White after Chicago scored the most 3-pointers since hitting 25 against New Orleans on Feb. 10, 2021.

White passed Ben Gordon for third on the Bulls’ all-time 3-pointers list with 776. It was White’s third career 35-point game (also on Jan. 31, 2024, at Charlotte and Feb. 25, 2020, vs. Oklahoma City), only eclipsed by two games at Sacramento: his career-high 37 points on March 4, 2024, and 36 points on Jan. 6, 2021. Michael Jordan scored 581 3-pointers in his career.

It was the ninth time White has scored at least seven 3-pointers in his career. His career-best total is eight twice in home games against New Orleans: Dec. 2, 2023, in a 31-point game and Feb. 10, 2021, in a 30-point game.

Six Bulls hit at least a pair of 3-pointers, including four for Nikola Vucevic and three for Jalen Smith. This comes after Chicago was second-to-last in the NBA last season with 941 3-pointers and was 20th in the league with a 35.8% percentage.


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“Our coaching staff instilled in everyone, especially coach Donovan, just instilled in everyone the confidence to shoot it,” White said. “If we’d watch film during training camp of our practice, if somebody didn’t shoot it or somebody passed up a shot, he was stopping it and demanding they shoot the ball.”

White had 10 points Wednesday in a 123–111 season-opening loss at New Orleans in which he was 4 of 13 from the floor and missed all five 3-point attempts.


Cole Anthony had another tough game, but in another Orlando win. The Magic moved to 2–0 with a 116–101 home win over Brooklyn, with Anthony collecting four points, two assists and three steals in 20 minutes off the bench.

For Brooklyn, which fell to 0–2, Cameron Johnson had 12 points, two 3-pointers, two rebounds and two assists.


Utah fell to 0–2 with a 127–76 blowout home loss to Golden State, with Walker Kessler contributing two points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes.

Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 34 | 6–7, 225 | 15th season | $8 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

Roster situation — Backup small forward
Final statistics last season — 77 games, 9.9 points, 45.6 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 82.9 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Preseason statistics — 5 games, 18.0 minutes, 8.4 points, 34.6 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 88.9 FT%, 1.4 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.8 of a steal
Season statistics — 3 games, 1.0 point, 25.0 FG%, 25.0 3P%
Friday — Rockets 114, Spurs 110 (home) | didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Saturday — Spurs 122, Mavericks 106 (road) | didn’t start: 3:57, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, +6
Next game — 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Sacramento


Roster situation — Reserve; likely to play share of games in G League
Final G League statistics last season (Capital City) — 38 games, 10.3 points, 45.6 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals
Final NBA statistics last season (Wizards) — 15 games, 7.1 points, 38.8 FG%, 34.5 3FG%, 87.5 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 19.9 minutes, 7.7 points, 53.8 FG%, 62.5 3P%, 4–4 FT, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 1.3 steals
Friday — Blazers 128, Kings 120 (home) | didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 9 p.m. Sunday vs. Memphis


Tony Bradley, Utah Jazz center
Age 28 | 6–10, 248 | 9th NBA season | $2.44 million salary | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)

Roster situation — Fifth-string center
Final statistics last season (Indiana, Atlanta) — 41 games, 4.0 points, 54.7 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Preseason statistics (New York) — 3 games, 7.5 minutes, 5.3 points, 80.0 FG%, 0–1 FT, 1.7 rebounds
Friday — Jazz 120, Pelicans 119 (home) | didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 5 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Lakers


Harrison Ingram, Utah Jazz forward
Age 24 | 6–6, 230 | 3rd pro season | $678,882 salary (2-way contract) | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)

Roster situation — Third-string forward fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
G League statistics last season (Austin) — 40 games, 16.6 points, 49.2 FG%, 34.0 3P%, 62.6 FT%, 12.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists
NBA statistics last season (Spurs) — 7 games, 1.6 points, 83.3 FG%, 1–1 3P
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 7.9 minutes, 19 points, 53.3 FG%, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Friday — Jazz 120, Pelicans 119 (home) | inactive for game
Next game — 5 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Lakers


Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 210 | 8th season | $22.5 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of DeMar DeRozan
Final statistics last season — 54 games, 12.2 points, 48.0 FG%, 43.0 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record last season: 54–28, 3rd in Western Conference
Preseason statistics — 5 games, 18.3 minutes, 10.0 points, 55.9 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 50.0 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Season statistics — 1 game, 5.0 points, 66.7 FG%, 1–4 3P, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Saturday — Nuggets 141, Pelicans 135 (home) | didn’t play (sprained right ankle)
Next game — 10 p.m. Monday vs. Golden State, Peacock, NBCSN


Walker Kessler, Los Angeles Lakers center
Age 25 | 7–2, 245 | 5th season | $30.11 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Kevon Looney
Final statistics last season (Utah) — 5 games, 14.4 points, 70.3 FG%, 75.0 3P%, 70.0 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks
Preseason statistics — 2 games, 23.4 minutes, 8.5 points, 42.9 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 83.3 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.5 blocks
Season statistics — 2 games, 24.0 points, 84.6 FG%, 44.4 FT%, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steal, 4.0 blocks
Friday — Lakers 125, Clippers 117 (home) | started: 34:54, 22 points, 10–14 FG, 2–5 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 6 blocks, 1 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-high +18
Next game — 5 p.m. Sunday at Utah


Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
NBA season statistics last season — 49 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 10.4 points, 38.8 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists
G League statistics last season — 10 games, 24.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 14.5 minutes, 5.5 points, 25.9 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 55.6 FT%, 1.0 rebound, 3.0 assists, 0.5 of a block
Saturday — (season debut) Sixers 127, Bucks 116 (home) | 30 seconds, no statistics
Next game — 7:30 Sunday vs. Detroit


Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
G League statistics last season — 12 games, 19.0 points, 53.7 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
NBA statistics last season — 47 games, 5.4 points, 51.5 FG%, 42.0 3P%, 36.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 13.0 minutes, 4.0 points, 35.7 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 3.2 rebounds
Saturday — Sixers 127, Bucks 116 (road) | inactive
Next game — 8 p.m. Monday vs. Indiana


Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot
Statistics last season (Vanderbilt) — 36 games, 36 starts, 13.5 points, 44.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 84.7 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 21.1 minutes, 16 points, 4–18 FG, 2–14 3FG, 6–7 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Friday — Celtics 107, Knicks 103 (road) | inactive for game
Next game — 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Orlando


Roster situation — Backup 2 guard behind Egor Demin
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 63 games, 6.5 points, 40.2 FG%, 28.0 3FG%, 89.6 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Final regular-season G League statistics — 5 games, 11.8 points, 44.2 FG%, 36.4 3FG%, 72.7 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals
Preseason statistics — 4 games, 10.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 46.2 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 2–2 FT, 1.0 rebound
Saturday — Cavaliers 125, Nets 121 (road) | didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana


Roster situation — Fighting for a roster spot; likely to play in G League
G League statistics last season — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
NBA statistics last season — 11 games, 14.3 points, 52.0 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 92.3 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 15.9 minutes, 6.7 points, 46.2 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 57.1 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 of a steal
Saturday — Sixers 127, Bucks 116 (road) | inactive
Next game — 8 p.m. Monday vs. Indiana


Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Moritz Wagner
Final statistics last season — 62 games, 8.7 points, 60.1 FG%, 23.1 3FG%, 67.8 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals
Preseason statistics — 3 games, 18.8 minutes, 7.7 points, 55.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 25.0 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks
Season statistics — 2 games, 7.5 points, 46.7 FG%, 1–2 3P, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Saturday — Cavaliers 125, Nets 121 (road) | started: 22:40, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–2 3FG, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +6
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana


Coby White, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 210 | 8th season | $26.81 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of Dennis Schroder
Statistics last season (Bulls, Hornets) — 50 games, 17.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 36.2 3P%, 81.7 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Team record: 44–38, 9th in Eastern Conference
Saturday — Hornets 115, Heat 110 (home) | inactive: left calf strain
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Washington


Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls forward
Age 20 | 6–10, 215 | Rookie season | $10.68 million salary | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)

Roster situation — Starting power forward ahead of Patrick Williams
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 19.8 points, 57.8 FG%, 25.9 3P%, 71.3 FT%, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks
Preseason statistics — 5 games, 26.5 minutes, 15.8 points, 44.1 FG%, 31.0 3P%, 55.6 FT%, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 of a steal
Season statistics — 3 games, 22.3 points, 40.7 FG%, 17.4 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.3 blocks
Saturday — Wizards 124, Bulls 120 (home) | started: 38:22, 30 points, 10–24 FG, 1–9 3FG, 9–11 FT, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 fouls, +14, 26.2 game score (tied for best college game score: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals in 87–74 win over Kansas on Nov. 7, 2025)
Next game — 7:30 Monday at Boston


Atlanta Hawks center Henri Veesaar (tore right ACL on Sept.15)

Guard RJ Davis by San Antonio (preseason statistics: 3 games, 8.8 minutes, 7 points, 27.3 FG%, 1–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)

Photo via @chicagobulls

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