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.
“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.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 24 | 6–2, 185 | 5th season | $12.9 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve point guard/shooting guard
Statistics last season — 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 12.7 minutes, 7.0 points, 31.6 FG%, 18.2 3P%, 100 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, +1.7
116–97 Wednesday win at Miami — Didn’t start; 18 minutes, 0 points, 0–7 FG, 0–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +8
116–101 Friday win vs. Brooklyn — Didn’t start; 20 minutes, 4 points, 1–3 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnovers, 2 fouls, +5
Next game — 8 p.m. Saturday at Memphis, NBATV
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 32 | 6–8, 225 | 13th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Julian Champaignie
Statistics last season (Kings) — 82 games, 12.2 points, 47.4 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Final preseason statistics — 5 games, 23.5 minutes, 7.6 points, 36.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 90.9 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 of a steal, 0.2 of a block, -4
120–109 Thursday loss at Dallas — Started; 29 minutes, 17 points, 7–10 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, -12
Next game — 8:30 Saturday vs. Houston
Harrison Ingram, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 21 | 6–7, 230 | rookie season | $578,577 salary | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — Competing for reserve minutes at power forward
Statistics last season (UNC) — 37 games, 12.2 points, 43.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 61.2 FT%, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 24 minutes, 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–3 3FG, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 4 fouls, +7
120–109 Thursday loss at Dallas — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 8:30 Saturday vs. Houston
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 28 | 6–8, 210 | 6th season | $22.5 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Jalen Wilson
Statistics last season — 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Final preseason statistics — 4 games, 25.6 minutes, 14.8 points, 41.7 FG%, 39.4 3P%, 76 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 0.3 of a steal, 0.8 of a block, +1.8
120–116 Wednesday loss at Atlanta — Started; 32 minutes, 14 points, 4–10 FG, 1–6 3FG, 5–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, -10
116–101 Friday loss at Orlando — Started; 35 minutes, 12 points, 4–12 FG, 2–10 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, -14
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Milwaukee
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 23 | 7–0, 245 | 3rd season | $2.97 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center ahead of John Collins
Statistics last season — 64 games, 8.1 points, 65.5 FG%, 21.1 3P%, 60.2 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.4 blocks
Final preseason statistics — 6 games, 22.3 minutes, 7.0 points, 76. FG%, 33.3 FT%, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 0.3 of a steal, 1.8 blocks, +2.7
126–124 Wednesday loss vs. Memphis — Started; 30 minutes, 16 points, 6–7 FG, 4–5 FT, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 5 blocks, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +4
127–76 Friday loss vs. Golden State — Started; 20 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -17
Next game — 8:30 Monday at Dallas
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 22 | 6–9, 265 | 4th season | $3.8 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Statistics last season — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
120–116 Wednesday loss at Atlanta and 116–101 Friday loss at Orlando — Not active as he recovers from a hamstring injury
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Milwaukee
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 24 | 6–5, 195 | 6th season | $12 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard
Statistics last season — 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 28.9 minutes, 19.3 points, 47.4 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 0.7 of a steal, +4
123–111 Wednesday loss at New Orleans — Started; 35 minutes, 10 points, 4–13 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, -6
133–122 Friday win at Milwaukee — Started; 34 minutes, 35 points, 12–20 FG, 7–13 3FG, 4–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, +16
Next game — 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Oklahoma City
Photo via @chicagobulls
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